mm 



E 78 
,il8r82 




Class. 
Book. 



60th Congress "1 
2d Session j 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



Document 
No. 1500 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

BULLETIN 37 



ANTIQUITIES OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH- 
EASTERN MISSOURI -4rrr 



BY 

GERARD FOWKE 



(REPORT ON EXPLORATIONS MADE IN 1906-07 UNDER THE AUSPICES 
OE THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA) 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1910 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 




th Congress) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

2d Session J 



Document 
No. 1500 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

BULLETIN 37 



ANTIQUITIES OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH- 
EASTERN MISSOURI 



BY 
GERARD FOWKE 



(REPORT OX EXPLORATIONS MADE IX 1906-07 UNDER THE AUSPICES 
OF THE ARCH.EOLOGICAL IXST1TUTE OF AMERICA) 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1910 
I\v\ o rvi c.v i 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE | 




60th Congress \ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

2d Session J 



Document 

No. 1500 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

BULLETIN 37 



ANTIQUITIES OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH- 
EASTERN ft 



BY 

GERARD FOWKE 



(REPORT ON EXPLORATIONS MADE IN 1906-07 UNDER THE AUSPICES 
OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA) 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1910 






OCT 20 1910 









LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 

The Archaeological Institute of America, 

Washington, D. C, September 28, 1908. 
Dear Sir: I transmit herewith the manuscript and illustrations 
of a paper, entitled "Antiquities of Central and Southeastern Mis- 
souri," by Gerard Fowke. This is a report of two seasons' field 
work under the auspices of the St. Louis Society of the Archaeological 
Institute of America. I am authorized by the executive committee 
of that society to offer this manuscript for publication by the Bureau 
of American Ethnology. 

I am, with sincere respect, very truly, yours, 

Edgar L. Hewett, 
Director of American Archaeology. 
Mr. W. H. Holmes, 

Chief of Bureau of American Ethnology, 

Washington, D. C. 



Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution for publication, with his approval, as a Bulletin of the Bureau 
of American Ethnology. 

W. H. Holmes, Chief 
in 



PREFATORY NOTE 

The explorations described in the accompanying report were made 
during the years 1906 and 1907 under the auspices of the Archaeo- 
logical Institute of America, the funds necessary for carrying on the 
work being provided through the liberality of the gentlemen here 
named, members of the St. Louis Society of the Institute: William 
K. Bixby, D. I. Bushnell, Edward Mallinckrodt, J. M. Wulfing, Mur- 
ray Carleton, J. D. Bascom, Geo. O. Carpenter, Mrs. E. A. Howe, 
C. H. Huttig, J. D. Markham, James A. Waterworth, Mrs. C. D. 
Graham, Hugo Koehler, Mrs. I. W. Morton, Charles Nagel, Dr. 
W. F. Parks, Dr. H. M. Whelpley, and J. J. Cole. 

St. Louis, Missouri. 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Introduction 1 

Explorations near the mouth of Gasconade river 7 

The Granmann mounds 7 

Mound no. 1 7 

Mound no. 2 8 

Mound no. 3 8 

The Ruegge village site 9 

The Uff man mound : 9 

The Birkle mound 10 

The Smith mounds 11 

Mound no. 1 11 

Mound no. 2 11 

Mound no. 3 12 

Explorations about the mouth of Osage river 12 

The Ewing mounds 12 

Mound no. 1 12 

Mound no. 2 13 

Mound no. 3 13 

Mound no. 4 13 

Mound no. 5 13 

Mound no. 6 14 

Mound no. 7 16 

Mound no. 8 18 

Mound no. 9 18 

Mound no. 10 18 

Mound no. 11 19 

The Dallmeyer mound 19 

Mounds in the vicinity of Hartsburg, Boone county 20 

The Shaw mounds 20 

Mound no. 1 21 

Mound no. 2 - 21 

Mound no. 3 22 

Mound no. 4 23 

Mound no. 5 23 

Mound no. 6 23 

Mound no. 7 24 

Mound no. 8 26 

The Dawson mounds 26 

Mound no. 1 26 

Mound no. 2 27 

Mound no. 3 27 

Mound no. 4 28 

Mound no. 5 28 

Mound no. 6 29 

Mound no. 7 32 

Mound no. 8 33 

v 



VI 



CONTENTS 



Mounds in the vicinity of Hartsburg, Boone county — Continued. 

The Dawson mounds — Continued. Page 

Mound no. 9 33 

Mound no. 10 35 

Mound no. 11 36 

Mound no. 12 39 

Mound no. 13 39 

Mounds in the vicinity of Easley, Boone county 42 

The Easley mounds 42 

Mound no. 1 43 

Mound no. 2 43 

Mound no. 3 47 

Mound no. 4 50 

Mound no. 5 51 

Mound no. 6 53 

The Baumhoefer mounds 54 

Mound no. 1 54 

Method of construction 57 

Mound no. 2 59 

The Buescher mounds 61 

Mound no. 1 61 

Mound no. 2 62 

Mound no. 3 63 

The Kurtz mound , in Howard county 63 

Mounds opposite Kansas City 65 

The Keller mounds 67 

Mound no. 1 67 

Mound no. 2 67 

Mound no. 3 ' 68 

The Brenner mounds 69 

Mound no. 1 70 

Mound no. 2 71 

The Klamm mound 72 

Distribution of vault-graves 73 

Mounds in the vicinity of Warrensburg 74 

The "Indian House" in Pike county 75 

Painted Rock 81 

Old fort and village site in Saline county 82 

Old fort 82 

Village-site at ' ' The Pinnacles " 86 

Arrow Rock 92 

A reconnoissance in southeastern Missouri 93 

The Hunter mounds 95 

The so-called garden or domiciliary mounds 96 

The copper plates from Maiden, Dunklin county 98 

Village sites worth excavating 99 

-Localities worth investigating 99 

Reported localities possibly worth examining 99 

Additional archeological remains visited or reported 100 

Report on skeletal material, by Dr. Ales Ilrdlicka 103 

I. Condition of the material 103 

II. Crania 103 

III. Long bones 104 

IV. Detailed measurements and observations 104 

Index 113 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 
Plate 1. Archeological sites explored in Missouri (map) Frontispiece 

2. Features of Ewing mounds nos. 5 and 6 15 

3. Vaults in Ewing mounds nos. 6 and 7 17 

4. Features of Dawson mounds nos. 4 and 7 32 

5. Features of Dawson mound no. 9 34 

6. Vaults in Dawson mounds nos. 9 and 11 38 

7. Vault in Dawson mound no. 13 42 

8. Interior of Baumhoefer mound no. 1 55 

9. Exterior and interior of Baumhoefer mound no. 2 60 

10 . Vault in Kurtz mound 64 

11 . Vault in Kurtz mound 65 

12. Features of Keller mounds nos. 2 and 3 68 

13. Features of Brenner mounds nos. 1 and 2 71 

14. Features of Brenner mound no. 2 and of the Louisiana work 78 

15-19. Copper plates from Maiden, Dunklin county 98 

Figure 1. Pot from Granmann mound no. 3 8 

2. North and west walls in Uffman mound 10 

3. Pipe from Smith mound no. 2 11 

4. Flint digging-tool from Shaw mound no. 6 24 

5. Pot from Shaw mound no. 6 25 

6. Pot from Dawson mound no. 9 34 

7. Pipe from Dawson mound no. 11 37 

8. Pipe from Dawson mound no. 11 37 

9. Stone grave-cover in Easley mound no. 2 44 

10. Pipe from Easley mound no. 3 48 

11. Unfinished pipe from Easley mound no. 3 48 

12. Pipe from Easley mound no. 3 49 

13. Pipe from Easley mound no. 5 52 

14. Broadhead's plan of vault in Brenner mound no. 1 70 

15. Broadhead's section of Brenner mound no. 1 70 

16. Broadhead's plan of two vaults in Pike county 74 

17. Giddings's sketch of the Louisiana work (from Beck's Gazetteer) .. 76 

18. The "Old Fort" in Saline county 83 

19. Pot from village site, Saline county 90 

20. Lower jaw with two supernumerary bicuspids, from Dawson mound 

no. 6 106 

VII 



ANTIQUITIES OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN 

MISSOURI 

By Gerard Fowke 

INTRODUCTION 

During the first season the work here dealt with extended along 
the Missouri river from the Gasconade to Moreau creek on the south 
side, and from Cedar creek to Easley on the north. The second 
season's work began at Easley and was followed out to the south- 
west part of Howard county, thence into Saline county; the mounds 
opposite Kansas City were next examined; some investigations were 
made in Pike county; and work for the year closed in the south- 
eastern part of the State. 

On subsequent pages will be found a list of localities of archeological 
interest in various parts of the State, derived partly from personal 
investigations, and partly from the reports of numerous persons famil- 
iar with the regions named; this list is necessarily incomplete. The 
owners of many of these remains have granted permission for their 
exploration, and it is probable that similar leave can be readily 
obtained for others. In very few instances was the privilege of 
excavating refused unless there were good and sufficient reasons for 
the refusal. 

As some words have several meanings, dependent on the connec- 
tion in which they are used, certain terms appearing frequently should 
be explained to prevent misapprehension or confusion on the part of 
the reader. 

"Summit," or "apex," means the highest point of a mound; this 
may now be several feet from its original position owing to the 
shifting of earth due to cultivation or erosion. 

"Top" means the present surface of the mound in any part within 
the area where it begins to rise from the natural soil. 

"Surface" means the original surface of the ground upon which 
the mound is built. 

"Bottom" means the plane of junction of the deposited earth and 
the undisturbed ground, being practically synonymous with the 
term "surface." 

The terms "soil" and "subsoil" are used in their ordinary sense. 
5780— Bull. 37—10 1 



2 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

"Center" is the vertical line from base to summit of a mound 
regular in form, or from the middle point within the area covered 
in the case of a structure unevenly built, or subsequently altered in 
form. 

A "doubled," or "folded," skeleton or body is one which was bent 
at the joints before burial, so as to occupy less space. Sometimes 
only the legs were bent, but usually the knees were drawn up to the 
chin and the feet against the hips. Perhaps this custom occasionally 
had an occult significance, but in general it was resorted to merely 
to avoid the labor of digging a large grave. Nearly all the bodies 
thus bent were laid on the side, though some were placed on the 
back. This method of inhumation is probably the basis of numerous 
reports concerning "bodies buried in a sitting [or squatting, or 
crouching] position." It has never been the fortune of the present 
writer, or of any of his coworkers, to find remains to which any of 
these terms are applicable. 

"Skeleton burial" means one in which the bones were denuded of 
flesh before interment. 

"Bundled" bones are those whose position in the earth indicates 
that some care was taken, or at least an attempt made, to place a 
disarticulated frame, or portions of it, in somewhat regular order. 

"Bunched" bones are those thrown in carelessly or at random, 
apparently in a reckless fashion. 

Except as definitely specified otherwise, all mounds mentioned in 
this report are of the so-called conical form. Of course, no mound 
was ever "conical;" mounds could not be built in that shape, nor 
would it be possible for a heap of earth to hold this form through 
the first rain. "Dome-shaped" would be a better term in this con- 
nection. 

In descriptions of mounds, especially of those in cultivated fields, 
measures of height and diameter are usually given to the nearest foot 
and nearest five feet, respectively. Accurate measurements are 
nearly always impossible, because on sloping ground the margin of 
the base can not be determined. The actual height of a mound can 
seldom be definitely ascertained until its bottom is reached. The 
distance between mounds of a particular group is measured from 
center to center as they now stand. 

Frequently, vegetation is so scanty on the ridges, exposed as 
they are to excessive denudation by winds and rains, that sod and 
roots do not leave a distinct stratum at the plane separating natural 
from dumped earth. In these cases it is necessary to remove not 
only the mound itself, but also the soil on which it stands, until the 
subsoil is reached. Only thus can the explorer be assured that he is 
not passing over a grave or other aboriginal excavation beneath the 
tumulus which is being examined. Such procedure often involves 






fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUKI 3 

the removal of several hundred cubic feet of earth which is in its 
natural position — a great waste of time and labor, but one that can 
not be avoided. On the other hand, this method sometimes shows 
that material which has every appearance of undisturbed loess 
forms part of the artificial structure. Very erroneous estimates of 
the age of skeletal or other remains may result from failure to distin- 
guish earth in situ from earth which has been deposited by human 
agency. 

In all cases where the deposited earth is very hard it is possible that 
it was taken from the original situation while wet, or at least damp, 
and consequently much easier to dig. Its present compactness may 
frequently be only the natural result of laborers walking about upon 
it while engaged in the task of piling it up. If grave pits or other 
cavities were required in the subsoil at a time when the ground was 
harder than usual, the workers could lighten their task by carrying 
water and pouring it over the area on which they were engaged. In 
a very dry season it is not possible to excavate with primitive tools 
the tough native clay in which some of these graves are found. 

No special importance attaches to points of the compass as 
given in the descriptions. As most of the mounds were erected on 
narrow, winding ridges, their outlines and relative positions are 
determined by the topography only, no attention being paid by the 
builders to cardinal points. 

The interior faces of the walls in nearly every vault opened had an 
outward slope, making the vaults larger at top than at bottom. 
This method of construction was probably intentional, the purpose 
being to prevent the wall from falling inward, the backing of earth 
and stone built up concurrently holding it from falling outward. 
But the waUs noticed in some of the mounds opposite Kansas City 
prove that the builders could lay them up vertical when they desired 
to do so. 

No effort was made to break joints or to interlock at corners; 
when a stone was ready, it was placed where needed, regardless of 
the position of the stones below. These characteristics appeared in 
all the vaults examined; the builders seemingly never learned how 
to strengthen the structure by arranging the courses differently. 
But as the vaults were to be covered immediately and never again 
used, it mattered little how they were put up. If these people had 
erected stone houses for purposes of shelter, probably they would 
have learned in time the advantages of both the technical features 
above mentioned. 

a Nearly all the bones unearthed were so decayed and fragile that it was impossible to remove them 
intact. Many of them were less cohesive than the earth in which they were embedded. This state- 
ment is applicable even to the skulls and long bones. It was necessary to saturate many of them with 
glue in order to remove them in even tolerable condition. This explains why no perfect osteological 
remains were recovered. 



4 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

Although vaults such as are described in the following pages are 
vaguely brought to notice by occasional mention in scattered reports, 
no photographs have previously appeared, nor has there been offered 
a satisfactory explanation as to their purpose. In some of the 
earlier works relating to Missouri the few vaults then known are 
called "houses," "walled houses," or "underground houses." One 
very elaborate illustration appeared of the work near Louisiana (see 
fig. 17). While the structures as they actually exist are roughly 
laid up, at the same time they are a new feature in American arche- 
ology so far as it relates to the region east of the Eocky Mountains. 

The mounds along the lower Missouri plainly owe their origin to 
a people whose grade of culture was much inferior to that of the 
mound builders east and south. The skulls are of low type. The 
pottery is described by Mr. W. H. Holmes, as follows: 

The pottery obtained by Mr. Fowke from the mounds of the Middle Missouri region 
is limited in quantity, rude in finish, and generally fragmentary. All the vessels are 
wide-mouthed pots of medium or small size; nearly all show traces of use over fire. 
With exception of two specimens the clay is tempered with coarse shells and the walls 
are moderately thick. The rims of most of the vessels are narrow, upright, or slightly 
recurved, and are crimped on the margin with the finger nail or with an implement. 
Rudely modeled loop handles connect the rims with the bodies of the vessels and in 
a few specimens a slight projection takes the place of the handle. The somewhat 
globular bodies are decorated in a rude fashion with patterns consisting of incised 
lines and indentations. On some specimens these are arranged in zigzag series of 
three or more lines bordered by lines of indents, suggesting the treatment of conven- 
tional animal forms characteristic of the pottery of the middle and lower Mississippi 
valley. On a few vessels the designs are impressed rather than incised while others 
are excavated as with- a gouge. The instrument employed was probably tubular in 
form, possibly the leg bone of a turkey or a deer. 

One small vessel (no. 24), neatly wrought, about five inches in diameter, is of a 
variety distinct from the preceding. The surface is fabric-marked, the meshes of the 
cloth used being quite small. 

Another specimen of northern type (no. 64) corresponds closely with pottery obtained 
from mounds in the vicinity of Davenport, Iowa. The tempering is siliceous and 
the surface has been decorated by means of a square-toothed roulette, the lines of 
indentation extending round the shoulder and body of the vessel. 

The methods of interment, as a rule, show but little reverence or 
respect for the dead. 

At least two diverse stages of culture are suggested and certainly 
more than one period of occupancy, but boundaries and periods of 
time can not yet be determined. 

In not one of the graves opened was there found any object not 
of aboriginal manufacture. While this is negative evidence, it is 
true, it would indicate that the burials antedate the arrival of whites 
in the country where the vaults are found, if they did not precede 
the period at which the tribes constructing these vaults may have 
had dealings with the first traders who could have brought the white 
man's wares into the country. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 5 

The earliest history, or tradition we have of this region shows it 
was inhabited by the Siouan Indians. Unless they may have made 
their interments in the manner set forth, we must forever remain 
ignorant concerning the people to whom these graves are due. 

Under the title " Omaha Sociology," J. Owen Dorsey says: a 

When the ancestors of the Omahas, Ponkas, Osages, and several other cognate 
tribes traveled down the Ohio to its mouth, they separated on reaching the Mississippi. 
Some went up the river, * * *. The rest went down the river * * *. The 
tribes that went up the Mississippi were the Omahas, Ponkas, Osages, and Kansas. 
Some of the Omahas remember a tradition that their ancestors once dwelt at the place 
where Saint Louis now stands; and the Osages and Kansas say that they were all 
one people, inhabiting an extensive peninsula, on the Missouri River. 

It is also said that "on this peninsula was a high mountain;" 
Dorsey supposed the location to be in the northern part of Saint 
Louis county. Several large mounds are situated on top of the 
bluffs a short distance above the mouth of the Missouri; one of them 
is low and flat topped, as if designed for an assembly place, or for the 
foundation of a large building. 

Subsequently, these tribes ranged through a territory, including Osage, Gasconade, 
and other adjacent counties of the state of Missouri, perhaps most of the country 
lying between the Mississippi and the Osage Rivers. The Iowas were near them; but 
the Omahas say that the Otos and Missouris were not known to them. The Iowa 
chiefs, however, have a tradition that the Otos were their kindred, and that both 
tribes, as well as the Omahas and Ponkas, were originally Winnebagos. * * * 

At the mouth of the Osage River the final separation occurred. The Omahas 
and Ponkas crossed the Missouri, and, accompanied by the Iowas, proceeded 
[north] * * *.& 

According to Dorsey's map, the Osage went up the Osage river, 
on whose course, near the Missouri-Kansas line, they were living 
after the Louisiana Purchase. The Kansa Indians followed the 
Missouri river; and it is along their route, as given by Dorsey, that 
the stone vaults have been found. The "Indian House," and the 
two similar vaults in Pike county (p. 73), all that are known at 
present away from the immediate neighborhood of the Missouri, 
may owe their origin to a temporary colony from that stream, whether 
Kansa or others. Warrensburg (p. 74) is only about 30 miles south 
of the Missouri. 

On Marquette's original map of his voyage of 1673 and later c the 
Osage, Missouri, and Kansa are placed in about the same localities 
where they are noted by later explorers; that is, at the mouths of 
the Osage, the Grand, and the Kaw, respectively. 

Bradbury says: d 

The Missouri Indians, from whom the river takes its name, were a prominent tribe 
of Siouan stock, who appear to have lived originally at the mouth of the river; but 

a In the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 211, 1881-2, Washington, 1884. 
i Op. cit.,212. 

eSee copy in Shea's The Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi Valley, New York, 1852. 
d Travels in the Interior of North America (in Thwaites's Early Western Travels, v, 56 (note), Cleve- 
land, 1904). 



6 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

about the beginning of the eighteenth century they moved up to this place [that is, 
about four miles below old Fort Orleans, near the mouth of Grand river, on the left 
bank], where their principal village was found by early French explorers. 

And further (p. 80) : 

The Missouris are incorporated with [the Oto]; they are their descendants and 
speak the same language. * * * A very considerable part of the surrounding 
country formerly belonged to the Missouris, who were once the most powerful nation 
on the Missouri river, but have been reduced by war and smallpox. 

Another authority" shows the "Little Osage Village in 1805," on 
the south side of the Missouri, in Saline county, between Grand Pass 
and Malta Bend. The "Missouri Village in 1805" was located in 
the southwest corner of Chariton county, near the mouth of the 
Grand river. Neither of these localities is far from the village site 
at "The Pinnacles" (see p. 82). 

On a map dated 1763, which accompanies Charlevoix's Letters 
(1720), the village of the Missouri is located above Fort Orleans, in 
about the position of the Osage village as given by Royce. 

It appears from all that now can be learned that the Osage Indians 
never ascended the Missouri farther than the mouth of the Osage 
river, and as the stone vaults above that point show progressively 
more skill in their construction we must attribute them either to 
the Kansa Indians or to some tribe whose name is now lost. 

The continuous and extensive changes of channel in the Missouri 
river, and in the Mississippi below their junction, deprive us of any 
certainty as to the location of the "peninsula" referred to in the 
Siouan legend. The narrators naturally would have applied the 
name "Missouri" to the whole river; that is to say, they would have 
regarded what we now call the Missouri as the principal stream, 
because they lived on it, and the Mississippi above the junction as a 
tributary. So we may not have. to go to "the northern part of Saint 
Louis county" to find the place the tradition calls for. 

There is strong evidence that within a comparatively recent period 
the stream crossed abruptly from the Missouri to the Illinois bluffs 
and then back to the Missouri side, in a space of a few miles 
above and below the present levee. Horseshoe and Pittsburg lakes 
are remains of this former channel. The mounds of the Cahokia 
group correspond in form and situation with mounds which formerly 
existed on the site of Saint Louis, and they are not at all of the same 
type as those nearest them in Illinois — an indication that when built 
they were all on the western side of the Mississippi, or according to 
aboriginal ideas, of the Missouri, river. Thus it is quite probable, pro- 
viding we admit the essential truth of the Omaha tradition, that this 
is the "peninsula" to which reference is made, and that in the term 

a See Royce, "Indian Land Cessions in the United States," in Eighteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of 
American Ethnology, pt. 2, pi. cxliv, 1896-97, Washington, 1899. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 7 

"high mountain" we find the linguistic successor of "high mound" — 
in other words, the towering artificial structure called the Great 
Cahokia Mound. There is no other locality near the mouth of the 
Missouri which accords with the description given by Dorsey, certainly 
no "high mountain," so it is safe to assume that the Siouan tribes 
were settled for a time on an extensive bottom in front of the 
present city, with the Mississippi river on the north, east, and south. 
They may have constructed the small burial mounds found in the 
county and westward; and when, in their renewed migration, they 
reached a region where flat rocks were abundant and earth hard to 
dig, may have evolved the stone vaults. 

As no mention is made in the legend of contact with an unrelated 
tribe, either at that time or afterward, the Mound Builders had no 
doubt abandoned the site before the advent of the vSioux; otherwise 
we should certainly have heard of them. 

EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE MOUTH OF GASCONADE 

RIVER 

The Geanmann Mounds (l) a 

A mile west of Gasconade, on the farm of Mr. William Granmann, 
were three earth mounds, two of which stood about 40 yards apart, 
on the edge of a bluff overlooking the Missouri. 

MOUND NO. 1 

The mound farthest west measured 37 feet in diameter and 3 feet 
in height. A space 30 feet in width, extending from the south mar- 
gin to a line midway between the center and the north edge, was first 
cleared away to the subsoil, which lay at a depth of from 10 to 12 
inches. On the bottom, near the center, were a number of bones, of 
which only a humerus, a tibia, and two femora were in condition to 
be identified. Some of the bones showed indentations and stria- 
tions produced by gnawing, after burial, by mice or other small ani- 
mals.* Such markings are found on many bones unearthed from 
mounds along the Missouri River bluffs, and fragments of bones so 
marked are occasionally found at some distance below the bottoms 
of the mounds, having been dragged there by the rodents, some of 
whose burrows are indistinct or even obliterated. 

The only implement found in this mound was a rough flint knife, 
which lay loose in the earth. 

a Corresponding numerals designating the several areas of excavation dealt with in this paper will be 
found on the map (pi. 1). 

fc Incisions of this character are sometimes reported as evidence of the cutting or scratching of bones 
with sharpened or pointed implements, indicating cannibalism, or of attrition by glacial action, either 
directly by ice, or indirectly by floods resulting from its melting. In the latter case, bones could hardly 
have found their way into any aboriginal burial place. 



BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



fBULL. 37 



MOUND NO. 2 



This mound was 43 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height. Lying 
8 feet east of the center and 6 inches above the bottom was a crushed, 
decayed skull, the few teeth remaining with it being much worn. 
Beginning 2 feet nearer the center was a deposit of other bones too 
much decayed for identification with exception of short pieces of 
femora and tibiae. These bones lay on different levels within the 
space of a foot, occupying an area about 4 feet in diameter. 

At the center was an irregular hole 14 to 16 inches in diameter and 
a foot in depth. Filling this hole, and extending above and around 
it, was a deposit of mingled charcoal, soil, and burned earth, which 

had been brought here from 
a fire near by. 

Lying west and north of 
the center, on the bottom, 
distributed over a space ap- 
proximately 1 foot by 3 feet, 
were the charred bones, 
in very small fragments, 
of at least two, possibly 
of three, persons. Among 
these remains were a bone 
and a claw of a panther. 
All were covered with earth 
much burned, mingled with 
charcoal and soil, as if the 
debris of the p3Te had been 
thrown on them. Close by 

Fig. 1. Pot from Granmann mound no. 3. was a fragment of a femur 

or a tibia; also a skull from which the entire upper jaw had been 
removed before burial. All the unburned bones were very soft and 
much decayed. 

MOUND NO. 3 

This mound stood on the first bluff west of Gasconade. After 
having undergone much cultivation it measured 75 feet north and 
south by 50 feet east and west, and 5 feet in height. Beginning 25 
feet south of the apex, a trench 16 feet wide w r as run toward the 
center. Four feet from the starting point and a foot above the 
bottom was found a crushed and decayed skull, having its vertex 
toward the south. With exception of four teeth, no traces of bones 
accompanied it. At a distance of 2\ feet to the north of this skull, 
situated 6 inches higher, was another skull; this lay on the left side 
with the vertex toward the east; resting on this cranium was a part 




FOWKE] 



ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 9 



of one femur, while other fragments of leg bones lay just in front 
of the face. Loose in the earth, 6 inches north of the last described 
skull and the same distance above it, was a broken pot (fig. 1) having 
a capacity of about 1+ pints; there was a hole in the bottom, appar- 
ently intentionally made. 

Fourteen feet from the assumed center of the mound, near the east- 
side of the trench, pieces of a pot were discovered. Seven feet 
nearer the center and a foot above the bottom lay, as if thrown from 
a basket, a confused mass of skulls and of bones of the hips, legs, 
and arms from three or four bodies. There were no small bones 
among them. Nearly all these bones were fragmentary from the 
effects of decay and pressure, only a few of the long bones being 
entire and these very fragile. 

Two large trees had stood on the site of this mound before it was 
built, the holes left by the decay of their roots branching out through 
the soil. 

Although the excavation was continued for 27 feet beyond the 
point last mentioned, or 45 feet in all, apart from the remains above 
described nothing but an occasional flint or chip, fragment of pottery, 
or scrap of decayed bone came to light. 

The Euegge Village Site (2) 

Near Stolpe, on the right bank of the Gasconade, four miles above 
its mouth, is a village site located on the Ruegge farm. The owner 
pointed out various places, especially one stretch of about 50 yards 
along the top of a gentle slope, where "the ground is white with 
shells whenever we plow." As the field was under cultivation, no 
excavations were made. 

A single lodge site on the river bank near the edge of this field was 
carefully examined. Fragments of pottery, flint chips, and mussel 
shells were unearthed in considerable quantities, but at no point 
did these extend to a depth greater than 4 or 5 inches. Of the objects 
found, only one flint and a piece of hematite once used as a paint 
stone were worth preserving. 

The Uffman Mound (3) 

A mile east of Gasconade, on Mr. George Uffman's farm, on a point 
nearly 400 feet high, stood a mound of mingled rocks and earth 30 
feet in diameter and 3 feet in height. 

In the central part of the structure was a vault 8 feet 6 inches long 
and 5 feet 4 inches wide (inside measurements), built of sandstone 
slabs laid vertically to a height of about 30 inches. The main axis 
ran nearly northeast and southwest. Along the south side, on the 
original surface, was a pavement 6 feet in length by 2\ feet in width, 



10 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[BULL. '■¥! 



made of slabs, terminating 14 inches from each end; in the southwest 
corner was a space 1 by 3 feet where no stones had been placed. 
No reason was apparent for the existence of this pavement. There 
was considerable charcoal mixed with the earth which filled the 
vault, but no trace of bones or of worked objects appeared. 

The walls, partially demolished by former investigators, were 
held in place by rocks and earth piled against the outside surface. 
The interior of the portion of the walls remaining in place on the north 
side and at the west end is shown in figure 2. It will be observed 
from this figure that two parallel walls were first built, the other two 
walls being so constructed subsequently that the ends of each interior 
wall abutted squarely against the faces of the others. 




Fig. 2. North and west walls in Uflman mound. 

The Birkle Mound (4) 

Two miles east of Gasconade, on a high point on Mr. Robert Birkle's 
land, stood a mound having a base measure of 40 feet east and west, 
50 feet north and south, and an elevation of 5 feet. Originally the 
base was circular, the alteration in form being due to long cultivation. 

The central portion was cleared out by a trench, or pit, 20 by 24 
feet. A slab of chert, weighing about fifty pounds, from a stratified 
rock, lay on the bottom at the center, evidently having been placed 
there intentionally, and a few sandstone and limestone blocks lay 
scattered about in the earth. 



fowke] 



ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 



11 



Not a scrap of bone or other evidence suggestive of the presence of 
a grave beneath the original surface was found in the excavation, 
though the peculiar color characteristic of "grave earth" showed 
that bodies had been deposited in several different places. 

The Smith Mounds (5) 

On the east side of the Gasconade, a mile above its mouth, on the 
farm of Mr. Christian Smith, were four earth mounds on the crest of 
a narrow ridge lying between the river and First creek. Two of 
these mounds were examined. 

MOUND NO. 1 

The first mound, a hundred yards from the river bluff, was not 
more than a foot high. A space in the center 12 feet in diameter was 
cleared out. On the surface, at the west edge of the excavation, were 
a few fragments of a partially 
cremated skull, teeth, and long 
bones. Three feet south of these 
were fragments of two skulls 
showing no marks of heat, and a 
few small pieces of burned bone. 
In the center was a grave pit 3 \ 
feet in diameter and slightly more 
than a foot deep, which contained 
no trace of bone or relic. Scat- 
tered over and around this grave 
were several limestone slabs 
ranging from 5 to 25 pounds 
each in weight; these seem to 
have been thrown in at random, having had apparently no connection 
with funeral ceremonies. The earth in the grave was very hard, as if 
packed in while damp and then tramped or pounded down hard. 

MOUND NO. 2 

The second mound, 40 yards east of the first, was 3 feet high and 
40 feet in diameter. A circle having a radius of 10 feet from the center 
of the mound was marked off, and the earth within this removed down 
to the subsoil. At the southwest margin of the excavation were found 
the decayed bones of a skeleton, which lay extended, with the head 
toward the east, 6 feet from the center. On the northwest side leg 
bones extended beyond the excavated portion; other bones, including 
parts of two skulls, lay in confusion from 8 to 10 feet from the center. 
Extending eastward from this mass for about 3 feet were still other 
bones, whose original position could not be determined; these included 
many small pieces of at least two partially cremated skulls (one thick, 




Fig. 3. Pipe from Smith mound no. 2. 



12 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. S7 

one thin), long bones, and one piece of a child's rib. There was also 
the stem of a clay pipe so poorly burned that it fell apart. At the 
east end of the deposit was a clay pipe (fig. 3). The earth about these 
bones and at various other points within the excavated area was as 
hard as if once puddled. As in most mounds in this neighborhood, 
there were chips and spalls of flint, and fragments of human and 
animal bones scattered about loose in the earth. 

MOUND NO. 3 

On the highest point of the hill which separates the creek from the 
river is a mound 40 feet in diameter and 4 feet in height, built of 
earth and stones in about equal proportions. Relic hunters had dug 
a trench from the south margin to a point a few feet beyond the 
center. At one end of their excavation a few rocks, held in position 
by roots of a tree, remained to indicate that a vault, or burial cham- 
ber, had once existed, the walls of which were thoroughly demolished. 
Examination of the undisturbed portion showed that a considerable 
amount of rock had been piled against the outside of the east wall to 
hold it in position. The west and north walls, however, were not 
thus protected, being kept in place by earth. The method of sup- 
port for the south wall could not be ascertained. The mound had 
not extended more than a foot above the highest stone of the vault. 

No material was found in this mound except a few potsherds and a 
small piece of skull in the disturbed earth. 

EXPLORATIONS ABOUT THE MOUTH OF OSAGE RIVER 

The Ewing Mounds (6) 

On the farm of Mr. Paul G. Ewing, a mile and a half west of Osage 
City, seven mounds stood along the brow of a hill facing Roisden 
creek, which flows at the foot of the western slope. All these mounds 
had been reduced by cultivation. 

mound no. 1 

Mound no. 1, that situated farthest south, was 34 feet across and 
3 feet high. A foot below the top and 2 feet south of the center 
were three limestone slabs covering an area of a square foot; nothing 
was found under them. On the same level, at the center, lay a 
decayed skull, the teeth of which were much worn; mingled with the 
fragments of this skull were the point of a bone awl, a small finely 
wrought flint drill, three small fragments of flint, and a rude hammer 
stone; no other bones were with or near the skull. A foot below the 
level just mentioned were the feet bones belonging to another body, 
which had been interred with the head toward the east. In the same 



I'Owke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 13 

plane with these bones, lying 3 feet farther north, was a single frag- 
ment of a ] ong bone. 

MOUND NO. 2 

Mound no. 2, measuring 40 feet in diameter and 3 feet in height, 
stood 70 feet north of mound no. 1. A space 12 by 20 feet was 
cleared out around the center. A foot above the bottom, 6 feet 
southwest of the center, lay a skull. On the same level, a foot farther 
north, another skull was unearthed, while a foot higher, 4 feet west of 
the first, a third one came to light. To the north and west of these 
crania lay other bones. All were so soft as to be less coherent than 
the earth in which they were embedded; often only the color, or ash- 
like patches, remained. At the center a skull was found, and a foot 
to the south of it another one, both on the bottom. Accompanying 
the cranium last referred to was the crown of a molar, having cusps 
not at all worn; this was the only tooth found in the mound. 

mound no. 3 

Mound no. 3, situated 80 feet north of no. 2, was 40 by 45 feet and 
5 feet high. Eight feet south of the center and 1^ feet above the bot- 
tom a number of small flat rocks, laid in the same manner as a pave- 
ment, covered a space 1 by 2 feet. Beneath these, grayish-colored 
earth indicated a burial, probably that of an infant. Nothing else 
worthy of mention was found in the mound. 

MOUND NO. 4 

Mound no. 4, which stood 70 feet from no. 3, was 25 feet in diam- 
eter and 2 feet in height. A number of small flat rocks, which had 
been plowed up, lay on top. On the bottom lay an extended 
adult skeleton 5 feet 8 inches long, with the head toward the north; 
the feet lay just east of the center. The bones of this skeleton were 
so soft that they adhered to the earth when it was removed; all the 
teeth had disappeared. A foot above the bottom, beginning at the 
center and extending east and south, was a layer of limestone slabs 
occupying a space 18 by 60 inches; nothing was found under them. 

MOUND NO. 5 

Mound no. 5, 200 feet north of no. 4, measured 25 feet in diameter 
by 2 feet in height. From 6 to 8 feet south of the center, on the 
original surface, was a layer of stone slabs extending north of east by 
south of west 2 \ by 5 feet (pi. 2). These formed the cover of a grave 
from 16 to 20 inches deep, in which were remains of either one or 
two infants, including part of a jaw in which the teeth had not come 
through the bone. 



14 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

Parallel to these slabs, and on the same level, 2 feet farther north, 
lay on its back at full length an adult skeleton, with the head toward 
the east. About the center of the mound, a foot below the present 
top, were a number of stone slabs covering an area 1J by 4 feet; no 
remains of any kind were found under them. 

MOUND NO. 6 

Mound no. 6 stood 175 feet northwest of no. 5. It measured 
45 by 50 feet, the longest diameter extending from southeast to 
northwest, and 6 feet in height. A trench 16 feet wide was started 
southwest of the center. Stones were soon encountered, extend- 
ing from the bottom to within a foot of the top. At first view these 
seemed to be piled at random, as part of the mound, but when all 
the earth above and around them had been removed, they were 
found to cover a space approximately rectangular, 17 feet north and 
south by 18 J feet east and west, measured on the diameters. The 
east margin was irregular, while the three other sides were nearly 
straight (curved slightly outward) and the corners rounded. 

About the center and toward the south margin were areas free 
from stones. The removal of the deposited earth from the first of 
these areas disclosed the interior of a vault or chamber made of slabs 
roughly laid up, as in a foundation or cellar wall, the bottom layer 
resting on the natural surface. The interior of this vault measured 
1\ feet east and west by 4£ feet north and south. The walls were as 
true and the corners as square as they could be made with undressed 
stones. The west, north, and east faces measured from 1\ to 3 feet 
in height. The south face was much lower, being nowhere more than 
a foot high, in places consisting of only two layers of stone. The 
breadth of the wall on top was fairly uniform all around, varying but 
slightly either way from 2 feet. 

The open space on the south side measured 11 feet in length by 2\ 
feet in width; it was inclosed by a row of flat stones, which cir- 
cumscribed the main vault and were in contact with its walls on the 
west, north, and east sides. The width of this border was from 2 to 3 
feet, being greatest on the north; in some places only one stone was 
laid, in other places as many as four stones, one on another, but 
nowhere to a depth of more than 8 or 9 inches, on a foundation of 
hanked earth 18 inches high. 

At the middle of the vault was a single row of stones extending 3 
feet east and west by 1J feet north and south; between these and the 
north side were a few others which had been either loosely thrown in 
or had fallen from the wall. All these stones, except the ones lying 
farthest toward the east, rested on a mass of burned earth a foot thick 
which extended to the west end of the vault; the condition of this 
deposit was not due to a fire made here, the earth having been 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 2 




STONE GRAVE COVER IN MOUND NO. 5 




VAULT IN MOUND NO. 6, LOOKING NORTH 

FEATURES OF EWING MOUNDS NOS. 5 AND 6 



fowkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUBI 15 

brought in from the outside. Beneath this burned layer were 
remains of a closely folded skeleton; the tibiae lay against the north 
wall, while the feet lay toward the east and the head toward the 
southwest. East of these bones, at the same level, were small 
fragments of skull. Along the south wall, beyond the limits of the 
burned earth, a body or skeleton, evidently that of a child, or at least 
of a young person, had been placed, with the head toward the west 
and the other bones, even those of the feet, almost in contact with it; 
the skull was quite thin. East of the skull were found other bones, 
but whether these belonged to the above or to some other human 
skeleton is uncertain, as only small fragments of any of them re- 
mained. 

On the original surface three or more bodies, extended, had been 
covered with a foot of earth, upon which in turn at least two others 
had been placed and similarly covered. One skeleton of each burial 
lay so close to the north wall that fragments of bone were forced into 
the crevices. The only evidences of these interments were a number 
of fragments of long bones. 

In the northeast corner, under the edge of the wall, was a clavicle, 
one end of which had decayed and disappeared; this, no doubt, was 
an accidental deposit, as its position indicated that it did not belong 
with any other bones discovered. 

In line with the outer face of the supplementary wall along the 
south side of the vault, midway between its ends, and a foot lower 
than the bottom rock, a skull lay in close contact with a thick flat 
stone; the vertex was turned toward the south, both maxillaries were 
absent, and no other bone was found near it except a single humerus, 
which lay on the other side of the stone and obviously had no con- 
nection with the cranium. 

South of this skull, entirely outside of the inclosure, were a large 
slab and two small ones, evidently intentionally placed, but nothing 
remained to indicate their purpose. 

Under the southeast corner of the stone wall circumscribing the 
vault lay a crushed skull, on the lower part of the face of which 
rested a thick rock. The teeth were sound, but much worn. From 
the position and condition of bones near by, it was inferred that only 
part of a skeleton had been interred here. 

All bones of adults discovered indicated persons of medium size. 

The interior faces of the vault were held in place by from two to 
four stones set at each corner, as if for markers, the intervening 
spaces being filled with stones laid up in a rough wall; these in turn 
were held up by earth piled against them. A clear idea of both the 
interior and the exterior arrangement of the vault may be had from 
plates 2 and 3. On the completion of the funeral ceremonies, the 
vault was filled with earth, on which stones were piled, the whole 



16 BTJKEAU OF AMEKICAN ETHNOLOGY [bdel. 37 

then being covered with earth to form the mound. No doorway or 
other opening, as found in vaults excavated later, existed in this 
instance, but the south wall was very low and probably the entire 
end was left open until the burials had been made. 

mound no. 7 

Mound no. 7 stood at the end of the ridge, 85 feet north of no. 6; 
it was 22 by 30 feet, with the longer axis from north to south, and 4 
feet high. The presence of many stones scattered over its surface 
indicated an interior construction similar to that just described. 

Within this mound undisturbed stones covered an area 14 feet 
north and south by 14+ feet east and west. A central inclosure 6 feet 
north and south by 9 feet east and west, in which no stones occurred, 
proved to be the vault. In this vault, a foot below the top of the 
mound, was a skull; nearly a foot lower, two skeletons, extended, 
with the heads toward the east, were uncovered, while at various 
points from 6 to 10 inches apart vertically, extending to the bottom, 
were fragments of nine more skulls and of many other bones. So 
large a proportion of the remains had entirely disappeared, and all the 
bones found were so decayed, that it was impossible to segregate the 
various parts of any particular skeleton or to determine whether 
certain bones belonged to one skeleton or to several. Each pile may 
have contained remains of more than one person. At one point, in 
the fourth layer from the top and a foot above the bottom, was the 
skeleton of a child of about 6 years of age, having the skull much 
decayed and most of the other bones missing; at the neck were eleven 
beads, drilled lengthwise, made from the columella of a large sea- 
shell, ranging from slightly less than an inch to nearly an inch and a 
half in length. In five different places were small fragments of par- 
tially cremated human bones, including all parts of the frame. The 
remains of one infant had been cremated, the residue being laid 
together in a little pile; the deposit was about the color of wood 
ashes, as were a few of the other remains, but most of them resembled 
charcoal. 

One of these deposits was of special interest because of an apparent 
attempt to place the partially incinerated fragments in their proper 
relative positions on and in contact with another body, or perhaps a 
skeleton in which the cartilages still held the frame firmly together 
at the time of interment. The skeleton lay at full length, on the nat- 
ural surface, with the head toward the east. Fragments of the two 
crania were intermingled, as were other bones, down to and including 
those of the feet. The bones of one foot (except the toes) and a por- 
tion of the lower leg of the partially cremated skeleton, though 
burned black entirely through, were found in nearly their natural 
order, as if the flesh had baked or hardened in the fire sufficiently to 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 3 




IN MOUND NO. 6, LOOKING SOUTHWEST 




IN MOUND NO. 7, LOOKING NORTHEAST 

VAULTS IN EWING MOUNDS NOS. 6 AND 7 



fowkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 17 

i 

hold them together until they were laid on the corpse (or skeleton) 
previously placed on the ground. 

It appears, then, from the foregoing that at this stage of the exca- 
vation the fragments of separate skulls brought to light gave evi- 
dence of not fewer than seventeen burials, including the cremated 
remains, and there may have been a greater number. 

On the north side the bones extended beneath some large stones; 
the latter may have fallen from the top of the waU, as may other 
stones at the east and west ends. 

When fully cleared out, the vault measured at the bottom 8J feet 
east and west by 7 feet north and south. The highest point of the 
wall, at the southwest corner, was 4 feet above the bottom of the 
lowest stone; the lowest point was on the west side, where the wall 
was only 18 inches high. 

In the south wall was a doorway, shown on the right (pi. 3), 
31 inches wide at the top and 15 inches wide where the sides most 
nearly approached each other, these dimensions affording evidence 
that the vault had been completed first and the bodies or bones car- 
ried in, rather than that the inclosure had been built up around the 
remains. Further proof of this fact is furnished by the discovery, 
not only here but in other vaults, of fragments of bones crowded into 
crevices by the settling of earth which lay over and around them. 

Two skuUs, one having teeth not at all worn, the other having 
some teeth worn down nearly to the roots, lay on the bottom close 
to the north wall. Near the center of the vault, in a small depression 
6 inches deep, were pieces of another skull. Across the east end, reach- 
ing to the wall on each side and separated by a space of 22 inches, 
were placed two large slabs on the south and three on the north, laid 
one on another, as seen in plate 3. Between these and the east 
wall was a space 6 \ feet north and south by 10 inches east and west. 
Occupying part of the space in the opening between these slabs and 
part of that in the chamber behind them, was found a shallow hole 
containing the remains of an infant only a few months old. 

Unlike that in no. 6, the vault wall in no. 7, from top to bottom, 
consisted of a single thickness of stones held in place by earth piled 
against the outside during the building. There were some stones in 
this earth, but these had been thrown in at random as a part of the 
supporting material, not laid up separately. Rocks were not to be 
had near at hand, and the workmen probably tired of carrying them 
from the adjacent ravine. In a few places the wall did not reach 
down to the natural surface, but rested upon deposited earth, as 
may be observed in the case of the large stone on the far side of the 
doorway, in the illustration. This was especially noticeable at the 
5780— Bull. 37—10 2 



18 BUB.EATJ OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

< 

northeast corner, where there was at least a foot of clumped earth 
below the bottom stones. In this earth were found several scattered 
fragments of a skull, a clavicle, an upper rib, and part of a jaw — all 
of which were more solid and strong than those buried within the 
vault, perhaps from being better protected. Under a stone at 
another point lay the broken lower jaw of an adult, with no other 
bone near it. In close proximity to the fragments first men- 
tioned, extending under the wall from its inner to its outer face, 
were unearthed a humerus, fragments of a hip bone, a vertebra, ribs, 
and a scapula, all lying as if thrown in at one time with a load of 
earth. Clearly these last three deposits were gathered up with earth, 
possibly from shallow graves, and dumped in promiscuously. 

Outside of the vault, lying close to the wall at the northeast corner, 
Were two small pieces of skulls, one of an adult, the other of a child. 



North of Mr. Ewing's house, on the edge of a bluff rising abruptly 
from the Missouri river, were 6 mounds, all in the primitive forest. 
Four were opened. 

mound no. 8 

The mound farthest west was not more than a foot high. A crushed, 
decayed skull lay 4 feet north of the center, with a few fragments 
of long bones (one a femur) 2 to 3 feet north and northwest of it. 
There were no traces of other bones. A few potsherds and flint 
chips lay loose in the earth, some of them on the original surface. 

mound no. 9 

The third mound in this series, 200 yards northeast of the first, was 
35 feet in diameter and 3 feet in height. At the center was a grave 
dug a few inches into the subsoil, in which lay the remains of two 
bodies, extended in the same direction, with the heads toward the 
east. Only the skulls and leg bones were left, and these were very 
soft and fragmentary. The teeth of one skull were much more 
worn than those of the other. Nothing was found with them, and 
there were no other remains in the structure. 

mound no. 10 

The fourth mound, 65 feet northeast of the third, measured 40 feet 
in diameter and 5 feet in height. A space 22 feet wide was cleared 
out around the center. A foot below the apex were portions of a 
femur and a tibia, probably intrusive; near the center, at the bot- 
tom, a portion of a skull was discovered, lying on the left side, facing 
west. Nothing else was found in this mound. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 19 

MOUND NO. 11 

The last mound of this group was 200 yards east of the fourth. 
It measured 30 feet in diameter and 3 feet in height. The presence 
of fragments of bones at the bottom indicated that two bodies had 
been placed on the natural surface and the mound erected over them. 

One of the two remaining mounds had been thoroughly ransacked. 
The other, which is 7 feet in altitude and slightly more than 50 feet 
across at the base, being very symmetrical and commanding an 
extensive view up and down the river and over several counties, 
was left intact in compliance with Mr. Ewing's wish. 

In all these mounds were found various objects, as flint chips, 
potsherds, and hammer stones, thrown in with the earth and having 
no special significance. 

The Dallmeyer Mound (7) 

On a farm owned by Mr. W. A. Dallmeyer, situated between 
Roisden and Moreau creeks, 5 miles east of Jefferson City, are 20 
mounds, which vary greatly in size, the smallest being not more than 
a foot high; the dimensions of the largest are given below. Five of 
these mounds cap a bluff rising steeply from the Missouri; 15 are 
in a line along the crest of a higher ridge about 200 yards from the 
river. Only the largest structure in the latter group was explored. 

This extended 72 feet east and west by 40 feet north and south, 
with a height of 5 feet. Originally the top rose in two points or 
peaks, as if two mounds had been started so near together that they 
overlapped in the course of building; but it had been reduced by 
cultivation until at the time of excavation, viewed from either end, 
it presented the ordinary "conical" or dome shape, while from the 
sides the top appeared level to the end slopes. 

The middle of the mound was cleared out by means of a trench 
20 feet wide and 50 feet long, dug to the subsoil. 

Midway between the ends were two graves, extending east and 
west, about 2\ feet apart. Measured from the original surface level, 
the one on the south was 4 J feet long, 18 to 24 inches wide, and 16 
inches deep; in outline it much resembled a moccasin. Along the 
north side of the depression lay an extended human skeleton having 
the head toward the east. Only portions of the skull and of the long 
bones remained ; these were very soft. The cusps of two molars were 
not worn in the least, and the other teeth only slightly so. The 
presence of fragments of skulls and a few teeth on the south side of 
the grave showed that it had contained a second body. At the south- 
east corner or curve were one sandstone block and two chert blocks, 
the largest about 25 pounds in weight, laid in contact, and at the 
south end was a rough piece of chert weighing about 15 pounds; all 
these were on the north edge of the bank. 



20 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bdll. 37 

The north grave, extending east and west, was 7 feet 5 inches long, 
3 feet 7 inches wide, and 5 feet 6 inches deep. Here the aborigines 
had to dig through nearly 5 feet of tough clay, which must be 
loosened with a pick before a shovel can be forced into it; possibly 
they worked only when the ground was wet. The sides and bottom of 
the grave were rough and lumpy, and it had evidently been excavated 
with pointed implements of small size, as bone, antler, or sharpened 
sticks hardened by heating, used as picks, prods, and levers, the 
marks of such tools showing in the hard earth. 

On the bottom lay extended, on its back, with the head toward 
the east, a skeleton 5 feet 9 inches long. No ribs or phalanges and 
only two or three cervical vertebrae remained; the skull was soft 
and crushed, as were the fragments of long bones remaining. The 
teeth were not much worn. Near the top of the head was a mussel 
shell, which crumbled when touched; at the neck were nine disk 
shell beads, with fragments of others and of mussel shell. Opposite 
the center of the grave, against the north wall, were teeth of a child 
not more than 2 or 3 years old. 

Twenty inches above the graves (placed there when the mound had 
reached that height) were the skull and large bones of an adult, care- 
fully piled in as small a space as they could be made to occupy. The 
skull and the lower jaw lay in diagonally opposite corners of the pile. 

On the natural surface, 20 feet from the foot of the west slope, 
was a thick block of limestone, weighing perhaps 150 pounds, with 
three smaller rocks lying against it; but there was nothing to indicate 
their purpose. Loose in the earth were a rough hammer stone and 
a few flint chips. There was nothing else in the structure — no evi- 
dence of two centers, or of more than one period of construction. 

Numerous other mounds lie along the river bluffs on both sides of 
Moreau creek, and also near the mouth of Osage river. Results in 
this vicinity had been so discouraging that none of these were opened. 

MOUNDS IN THE VICINITY OF HARTSBUEG, BOONE 

COUNTY 

The Shaw Mounds (8) 

A mile southeast of Hartsburg, on the farm of Mr. James Shaw, 
a spur from the table-land, projecting toward the south, practically 
level along the top and sloping abruptly on each side, expands toward 
its outer extremity to a width of about 750 feet. This spur ends in 
a rugged descent to a precipice facing the Missouri River bottoms. 
Extending in a line nearly east and west across the end of the spur, 
the outer margins reaching down on the slope above the bluff, were 
8 mounds. Five stood near together at the western terminus of the 
nearly level area. Three of these were never more than 2 feet high; 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 21 

the other two were 3 and 4 feet high, with diameters of 35 and 30 feet, 
respectively. The distance from the easternmost to the largest two of 
the group was 300 feet. Two hundred feet still farther east was the 
last mound, lying below the beginning of the eastern slope. 

All the mounds were composed mostly of clay, which is exceedingly 
hard to remove even with a pick; in places there was sand or softer 
earth. As in all mounds opened in this vicinity, the center was not 
the focal point. The pottery was in small pieces; bones were soft 
and more or less decayed, not one being entire. Various stone arti- 
cles, some only partially wrought into form, others much worn by 
use, were found scattered in the earth; among these were arrow- 
heads, pieces of hematite, rubbing stones, polishing stones, knives, 
and spearheads. 

MOUND NO. 1 

The most western mound of the group was nearly effaced. The 
central portion was cleared out to the extent of an area 8 feet across, 
to undisturbed subsoil; no trace of a burial was found. On what 
seemed to be the natural surface were a flint knife or spearhead and 
a broken pitted stone. 

MOUND NO. 2 

In the next mound, a circular area 16 feet in diameter was cleared 
out. At the center, 18 inches above the bottom, were fragmentary 
bones of an adult skeleton, lying extended with the head toward the 
west. The skull was fully one-fourth of an inch thick; no teeth ac- 
companied it. Parts of two smaller femora were with these bones, 
above which a number of small flat stones was placed, but not in 
such manner as to cover them all. 

Nothing else was found in the body of the structure. Beneath it 
were two graves. One, 5 feet west of the center, measured 5 by 3 
feet; it was not regular in outline, being longest approximately from 
north to south, and somewhat more than a foot deep. The filled 
earth was extremely hard and tough, almost of the consistency of 
wax. A pot of about half a gallon capacity had stood upright at the 
.south end, but was crushed by pressure. It was of a pattern not 
found elsewhere during these explorations, having a cylindrical neck, 
round body, and flat base. The neck and bottom were punctate, 
and the sides were decorated with indented curved lines. Clearly, 
this vessel was not made by the artisans to whom may be attributed 
other mound specimens figured in this report. a The decoration some- 

1 1t is the opinion of Mr. W. H. Holmes that this vessel is intrusive in this region or with the tribes repre- 
sented in the sites examined, and that it came by exchange from the tribes of eastern or southeastern Mis- 
souri, or was the work of some member of those tribes dwelling among the more primitive peoples farther 
north and west. It is especially noteworthy that the pottery represented in the collection, with the excep- 
tion of the vessel here referred to, is exclusively culinary, consisting of rude globular-bodied pots generally 
showing marks of use over fire, and decorated with symbolic incised or indented designs. The principal 
motive consists of a series of broken zigzag lines or meanders, bordered by dotted indentations, doubtless 
symbolizing some animal form having a superstitious relation to the use of the vessel. 



22 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37' 

what resembles that of pottery in Saline county (see fig. 19), but the 
form differs from any yet found, there. Nothing else was found in 
this grave. 

The second grave, halfway between the center and the northern 
margin, was rectangular in shape, 7 feet 6 inches long east and west, 
3 feet 4 inches wide, extending 21 inches into the subsoil, or about 30 
inches below the natural surface. On the bottom lay on its back an 
extended skeleton, with the head toward the west. Only portions 
of bones were left, but enough to determine that the body was less 
than 6 feet in length. One foot from the left side of the head, toward 
the north, was a pot with a flaring top and globular bottom, holding 
about a pint. Being poorly burned, it crumbled when exposed. 
Near the pot was the front part of a lower jaw, the ramus on each side 
purposely having been broken away. Five molars remained, the 
sixth having disappeared with the missing bone. All the other teeth 
had fallen out or had been extracted either after death or shortly 
before, as there was no evidence of growth or closure of the bone, and 
the sockets were filled with earth. About the pelvis were part of 
another jaw, a vertebra, and a bone from the foot, lying as if thrown 
on the body either intentionally or with a load of earth. There were 
indications, though not conclusive, that the graves were filled and 
small mounds made over them separately, and the larger mound sub- 
sequently built above both of these. 

MOUND NO. 3 

In the third mound a few fragments of human bones lay loose in 
the earth here and there; all these were accidental. Around the cen- 
ter, 18 inches above the bottom, was a mixed mass of ashes and 
burned earth, extremely hard, scraped together elsewhere and thrown 
here. It covered a space about 4 by 5 feet, and was a foot deep at 
the maximum. All through this layer, especially in the east half, 
were small cindery fragments of human bones, which must have been 
subjected to great heat for a considerable length of time after the 
flesh had disappeared, to be so thoroughly charred and reduced to so 
small pieces. 

On the same level, 3 feet south of these fragments, were bunched 
bones; and on the red clay subsoil one to two feet southeast of the 
latter lay other bones, indicating a folded body or skeleton. Four feet 
east of the center, at the bottom, was most of the upper part of a skull 
with no other remains near by. None of these bones were burned. 
Midway between the center and the south margin was a grave 7 feet 
by 3 feet 8 inches, having the greatest length east and west, and 20 
inches deep, reaching well into the hard subsoil. On the bottom lay 
two extended skeletons, with the heads toward the west. There 
were several inches of clear space between the bones and each end of 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 23 

the grave. With the femora of the two skeletons was part of a smaller 
one. By the right humerus of the skeleton toward the south lay an- 
other humerus, likewise smaller, and by its chin, a patella. These 
additional bones had not been thrown in with the surrounding earth, 
but had been laid with care where found. The skull toward the south 
lay on its left side. The other, near the north side of the grave pit, 
rested on the vertex, which was crushed in; the lower jaw, inverted, 
lay on the right shoulder, with the chin turned toward the breast. A 
few of the bones held their form, but went to pieces when the sup- 
porting earth was removed. For 2 feet from the east end of the 
grave, scattered promiscuously through the earth, were dismembered 
bones, all small or medium in size, of two or more persons. Among 
these, the entire frame was represented; there were 3 humeri, and 
parts of at least 2 skulls. When put here some of these bones were 
whole, others in fragments; they lay in all directions and at all an- 
gles. Evidently an old grave, or graves, had been robbed to furnish 
part of the material for filling this one. 

MOUND NO. 4 

Fully three-quarters of the fourth mound was barren of anything 
worth noting. Between northwest and southwest from the center 
was a cartload of hard-burned earth, almost like brick, mixed with 
charcoal and loose soil. In this was a little pile of partially cremated 
bones, in small pieces, of a child 3 or 4 years old. In another pile 
were parts of a thick and a thin skull, a short piece of a femur of an 
adult, and the lower end of a humerus of a child 10 or 12 years old. 
Each pile occupied a space not more than a foot across, and a stone 
weighing 15 or 20 pounds lay at the edge of each. Pieces of a broken 
pot were found loose in the earth. 

MOUND NO. 5 

In the fifth mound, a flint scraper and a small flint digging tool, 
highly polished, lay loose in the earth. A foot west of the center was 
the end of a grave, irregular in shape, which extended 3 feet east and 
west, 2 feet across, and a foot into the subsoil. This contained a few 
scraps of bone, among which were teeth not at all worn. 

MOUND NO. 6 

In the sixth mound much of the earth in the upper part was soft 
and could be shoveled like sand, but elsewhere, particularly in the 
lower part, it was exceedingly hard. 

About the central part, a foot below the top, were fragments of 
burned femora ; on the original surface lay a small pot broken into 
little pieces. Just south of the center a few detached bones were 



24 



BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 37 



found near the bottom, imong them the left half of a cranium. 
These were thrown in loosely with the earth covering a skeleton, 
which lay extended, with the head toward the west, the remaining 
portion of the skull lying over the pelvis. The body rested on the clay 
subsoil, but no definite outline of a grave could be distinguished. A 
side-notched hoe, or hatchet (fig. 4), 5J inches long, was found loose 
in the earth near the head. 

Northeast of the center, on the bottom, lay a small rough pot, 
having a row of little points or bosses encircling the rim, and corre- 
sponding depressions on the inside (fig. 5). Three feet north of the 
center was the edge of a rectangular grave, approximately 7 feet long, 
3| feet wide, and 18 inches deep, the longest dimension being nearly 

northwest and south- 
east. On the bottom 
were two extended 
skeletons, with the 
heads toward the 
northwest; only por- 
tions of bones were 
found. The teeth of 
one skull had entirely 
disappeared ; a few 
much worn, accompa- 
nied the other. Be- 
tween the two skulls 
were the pieces of a 
thick pot of not more than half a pint capacity, which had lain on 
its side. Around the upper part was a row of small circular indenta- 
tions made by pressure with the end of a stick or reed. 

MOUND NO. 7 

The seventh mound was the largest of the Shaw group, measuring 
55 feet nearly east and west by 45 feet across, and 5 feet above the 
highest point at its edge. The apex, which is here regarded as at the 
center, was several feet northwest of the middle point within the mar- 
gin. The base of this mound and that of the last preceding one 
overlapped somewhat. 

An excavation 30 feet long and 20 feet wide was made to conform 
with the outline of the structure. 

Four feet southeast of the center, 3 feet above the bottom, were 
four skulls in contact ; with them were two bowl-shaped pots, one of 
about a gallon, the other of less than a pint, capacity. The teeth in 
all the skulls indicated adult age, one set being worn nearly to the 
roots. One lower jaw, with its normal complement of teeth in place, 




FIG. 4. Flint digging-tool from Shaw mound no. 6. 



fowke] 



ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 



25 



had another set embedded in the bone. The effect of wear on the 
crowns was very unequal. 

Above the skulls was a mass of earth a foot thick, filled with bones 
lying in all positions, which apparently had been gathered up in 
baskets and thrown here at random. Among them were bones and 
teeth of a child 3 or 4 years old. 

Above this deposit was a foot of earth free from remains, and above 
this, again, a wagon load or more of earth, some portions of which 
showed no marks of heat, while other portions were burned to a 
brick-like hardness. This deposit covered a space 5 or 6 feet in 
diameter; it had no connection with the bones or with any other 
deposit, having been put in as a part of the structure. The earth had 
not packed firmly, coming out under the pick in large clods. 

At the center, 2| feet above the bottom, were three skulls close 
together. The teeth indicated various ages, some being much worn, 
others only slightly worn; one wis- 
dom tooth was not cut. There were 
also teeth of a child 7 or 8 years 
old, and of a very young infant. 
Under one of the skulls lay a pot, 
and fragments of a pot were near 
anotherskull. All about these skulls, 
though mostly toward the south and 
west, lay a mass of detached bones, 
seemingly thrown in with the earth, 
which covered a space 6 feet in di- 
ameter. At one place femora lay 
parallel, as if a body had been depos- 
ited there ; and at another point a femur, a tibia, and part of a pelvis 
were in the proper positions ; there were no other indications of ceremo- 
nies except those pertaining to loose-bone burial. No estimate could 
be made of the number of bodies represented, but there were certainly 
not fewer than twenty. Near the center, among the bones, were two 
pots in addition to those already mentioned. 

East of the center, on different levels, and 2 feet apart, were part 
of a lower jaw in which the wisdom tooth was not through the bone, 
and a small piece of a thin skull. Similar finds were made in several 
other parts of the mound. 

Southwest of the center a grave had been dug, not penetrating 
the subsoil at one end but sunk into it 5 or 6 inches at the other end, 
to make the bottom level. In this grave were traces of two skele- 
tons of medium length, having small bones, lying with the heads 
toward the northwest. At the foot of the grave were much-worn 
teeth; a little higher was part of a jaw with the last molar not at all 




Fig. 5. Pot from Shaw mound no. 6. 



26 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

worn. Of the skulls, only part of the top of one and part of the 
orbit of the other remained; but these were solid and strong, the 
latter especially so, having a smooth polished appearance as if it had 
been much handled. 

Near the center, just above the bottom, lay loose in the earth a 
lower jaw of a young person, well polished. It is not unusual to 
find bones, especially skulls, which seem to have been long preserved 
and much worn by rubbing or carrying around. Three or 4 feet 
from the jaw was the right half of a frontal bone, with the orbit, of 
a young infant. 

MOUND NO. 8 

The eighth mound was almost effaced. On the ground were a piece 
of a tibia and a broken columella. No grave could be found. 

The Dawson Mounds (9) 

On the farm of Mr. A. R. Dawson, a mile west of Hartsburg, were 15 
mounds. Two of these, situated on a high point from which the 
ground slopes in every direction, have been much ravaged and were 
not examined. The others ranged in close order along the winding 
crest of a narrow ridge or spur, whose general trend is from northwest 
to southeast; this slopes gently on one side toward Bonne Femme 
creek, and more steeply on the other to the Missouri River bottom 
land. On the latter side, toward the foot, are bluffs which forbid 
ascent except at two points, where ravines are eroded. The longer 
axis of those mounds, which had an elliptical outline, followed the 
direction of the ridge at the points where they were located. In each 
mound opened every part was excavated except a narrow strip around 
the margin. 

mound no. 1 

This mound was the farthest from the end of the ridge; it measured 
70 feet in length northwest and southeast, 35 feet in width, and 3J 
feet in height. 

At a distance of 12 feet west of the center was a pavement of lime- 
stone slabs, 13 in number, covering a space 26 by 40 inches, the 
greater dimension being exactly in line with the major axis of the 
mound. Most of the slabs were broken by the weight of earth resting 
on them. Apparently they had been supported by some perishable 
material whose decay allowed them to settle unevenly into a small 
pit, dug to a depth of 8 inches in the soil, in which lay on its back, 
with the head toward the southeast, a closely folded skeleton; the 
knees were brought up to the chest, the feet were in contact with the 
hips, and the face was turned to the left." The joints in the sacrum 
were closed solid and the teeth were much worn. The lumbar verte- 
brae and some of the cervical vertebrae were still firm enough to be 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 27 

lifted from the earth; most of the others had completely disappeared. 
Portions of only two or three ribs could be found. Near the skull 
were a few flint chips. A fine quartzite muller, and part of another, 
lying on the natural surface a foot to the west of the stones, were 
probably accidental. 

From 2 to 4 feet north and east of the center, piled on the surface 
over an area 18 by 36 inches, lay bones in the utmost confusion; these 
included parts of skeletons of five adults and three children, one of the 
latter an infant. 

MOUND NO. 2 

This was 125 feet southeast of mound no. 1 ; it was 60 feet long, 
20 feet wide, and 18 inches high. No sign of a grave or trace of bones 
was found in it. 

MOUND NO. 3 

This was 117 feet east of south from mound no. 2; it measured 75 
by 35 feet and 3^ feet high. From 7 to 9 feet northeast of the center 
was a grave cover of six slabs, occupying a space 20 by 42 inches, 
the latter representing the distance north and south. The grave was 
dug a few inches into the subsoil and at the bottom measured 3 feet 
6 inches by 2 feet ; the rocks did not cover it entirely at either end or 
on the west side. In this grave a closely folded body had been laid, 
on its left side, with the head toward the south; the face was turned 
so that the chin was brought upward and toward the rear in a position 
it could not have assumed, in a person of normal build, by any degree 
of displacement possible after burial. The spine was curved and 
twisted and the upper end lay under the skull. Clearly, the individual 
was badly deformed. The bones were too soft to be properly uncov- 
ered for photographing. The teeth, though large, were but slightly 
worn. A small rock lay on the south end of the grave, its edge almost 
touching the skull. 

Another grave lay south of the one last mentioned, east of the center, 
the nearest stones of the two graves being 17 inches apart. This was 
covered with four slabs extending 4 feet north and south and 2 feet 
6 inches east and west. Under these lay a skeleton, on its back, with 
the head toward the south; the legs were drawn up so that the feet 
rested against the body and had settled over to the left. Of the spinal 
column only three lumbar vertebra? remained; the femur was 16§ 
inches long ; the teeth were very little worn. 

Eleven feet south of east from the center, less than a foot below the 
top, were four slabs covering a space 1 by 2 feet. These were inclined 
toward the east at an angle of 45° ; no remains of any sort were found 
under them. Ten feet south of the center, just below the sod, were 
nine small stones irregularly laid, occupying a space 2 feet east and 
west by 20 inches north and south. Nothing was found under them. 



28 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bui*. 37 

Seven feet farther south were fragments of long bones, close to the 
top, which evidently had been disturbed by the plow, as they lay in 
all directions. Beneath these was a sacrum, other vertebrae extending 
southward therefrom. Vertebrae are usually the first bones to decay. 
The body had been laid on its left side, with the head toward the 
south; no trace of cranium or scapula was left. Close by were small 
fragments of pottery. 

At the bottom of the structure, 20 feet south of the center, was a 
hematite nodule which had been rubbed to procure paint material. 

mound no. 4 

This was 110 feet south from no. 3. It was 65 by 35 feet, the 
longest diameter running north and south, and 4 feet high. 

Sixteen feet northwest of the center, just below the original sur- 
face, were five teeth of an adult and eight of a child, with a piece of 
seashell and a scrap of bone too small to identify. Eight feet 
north of the center, 6 inches below present top, were portions of skull 
and arm bones. Five feet west of north from the center, in a hole 
dug to the subsoil, lay a skull on its right side, the top to the south, 
with the left side crushed in. The cranium was of low type — the 
forehead flat and receding, the jaws extremely prognathous, the 
facial angle and cephalic index very small. 

South of this skull, with 6 inches of earth intervening, were parts 
of skulls and arm bones of two children, one of them not more than 
2 years old, and part of the skull of an adult. Teeth of all three 
were present. Seven feet west of the center, 20 inches above the 
bottom, were leg bones, in slivers, and pieces of teeth, of an adult. 
Six feet south of the center, just below the sod line, five small stones 
covered a space a foot in diameter. Under these were the bunched, 
much decayed, hip and leg bones of a small person. Twenty feet 
south of the center was the inner edge of a grave cover of nine stones 
(pi. 4) on a space 2 by Sh feet, the greater dimension being east and 
west. The inner ends of these had fallen from their original surface 
level into a grave 18 inches deep, with slanting sides. In the bottom 
of the grave were a few very soft fragments of skull and long bones. 
Twenty-eight teeth were large, solid, well preserved, and but slightly 
worn; two of the wisdom teeth were represented by the crowns only 
and the other two had not developed." 

MOUND NO. 5 

This was 130 feet east of south from no. 4. It was 78 feet long, 
extending nearly north and south, 34 feet wide, and 3 feet high. 

a Contrary to current belief, it is very unusual to find a full set of sound teeth in an aboriginal grave, 
even in the ease of a comparatively youthful person. 



powke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 29 

At the center, a few inches under the sod, were two small angular 
rocks, beneath which were fragmentary bones of an infant. A foot 
farther west, on the bottom, were portions of a child's skeleton, with 
the head toward the east; the teeth were not worn in the least. 
Lying close to the sod, Qh feet west of south from the center, were 
eight rocks distributed over a space 22 by 46 inches, the latter rep- 
resenting the distance north and south. Beneath these lay on its 
back the skeleton of an adult, with the head toward the south; 
the legs were flexed and lying to the right. A fracture of the skull 
above the inner angle of the right eye. such as would be caused by a 
blow from a round stone or the blunt end of a tomahawk, was no 
doubt the cause of death. 

Twelve feet south of the center, a foot above the bottom, was a 
broken pot with a square top, resembling that shown in figure 1, 
except that the bottom is somewhat pointed. 

Ten feet east of south from the center was a mixture of burned 
earth and charcoal, filling a hole where a stump a foot in diameter 
had burned. In the debris was a core of chert from which several 
flakes had been struck off. On the natural surface, 21 feet south of 
the center, were fragments of teeth and bone from an individual 
whose wisdom teeth had just been cut. 

MOUND NO. 6 

This mound was 115 feet east of south from no. 5. It measured 
75 feet long, north and south, and 40 feet Avide; the height was 4 \ 
feet. 

Twenty-four feet west of north from the center, 30 inches above 
the natural surface, were fragments of arm bones, and of a skull 
three-eighths of an inch thick. Four feet nearer the center,- 18 
inches above the bottom, was the edge of a grave cover consisting of 
24 slabs and blocks covering a space 4 feet east and west by 3 feet 4 
inches north and south. Under this lay on its back the much-decayed 
skeleton of an adult of medium size, with the head to the south; 
the legs were flexed and lying over to the left. Only traces of bones 
remained. The teeth were moderately worn. 

Thirteen feet west of the center, 18 inches above the bottom, 
traces of bones appeared, for the most part resembling ashes. Of the 
skull, which had belonged to an adult, only the top was left. By its 
left side was a bowl of soft-burned red pottery, much broken by 
earth pressure. Seven feet south of the center, 2\ feet above the 
bottom, were small, much decayed pieces of long bones. 

Eleven feet northeast of the center, a foot above the bottom, was a 
pile of bones consisting of two femora, three tibise, a patella, and one 
fibula. A femur and a tibia lay side by side, at the top of the pile, 
the knee ends together, with the patella in its proper place. The 



30 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

knee of the other femur and the ankle of one tibia (the two being 
crossed like a narrow X) lay under the hip and ankle joints of the 
first two. The third tibia was under the latter two bones; beneath 
it, in turn, parallel to those at the top, was the fibula; the lower end 
of this fibula, or, if not, the corresponding end of still another fibula, 
was broken off and lay under the uppermost femur. 

The description of this interment, if it properly may be so called, 
is thus elaborated to give the reader a perception of the singular 
practices of which the explorer is continually finding evidence. It is 
quite obvious that these bones were entirely denuded of flesh before 
being deposited, and that the manner in which they were arranged 
was intentional and in accordance with some ceremony or belief 
whose significance must be altogether a matter of conjecture. 

A foot above the bottom, 7§ feet west of the center, were teeth of 
an infant and small shells, all very much decayed. Five feet north 
of the center, 3 feet above the bottom, were arm or leg bones, too 
fragmentary to uncover in position; 2 feet south of these, no doubt 
belonging to the same skeleton, was a skull lying on its left side, 
with the face toward the west; the teeth were worn flat. 

On the bottom, 94 feet west of the center, was a skull resting on 
its left side, with the top toward the south ; the bones belonging with 
it lay, bundled, toward the north, presenting every evidence of 
skeleton burial, the vertebrae being under the leg bones, which lay 
compactly together with the knee end of a tibia touching the head 
of a femur. The teeth were worn flat. 

Eight And a half feet west of the center was the north end of a 
pavement of thirteen slabs, the largest in average size yet found, 
covering a space 3 feet 10 inches north and south by 2 feet east and 
west. Under these slabs, on the natural surface, was the extended 
skeleton of a woman, lying on its back, with the head to the south- 
east, the face being turned to the left. Lying at the vertex of the 
skull, as if worn in the hair, were many shell beads having the 
border of the opening ground off. At the right side near the waist 
line were similar beads, and fragments of a skull which had belonged 
to an infant only a few months old. The few small pieces still remain- 
ing of the woman's right arm lay in a position indicating that it was 
extended to hold or protect the body of the child; the left forearm 
lay across the waist. There were no stones over the feet, the right 
knee, the infant's remains, or the part of the skeleton above a line 
running from the left shoulder to the right hip; but they extended 
beyond the body on the left. 

At the center, in a hole dug a foot into the subsoil, was an adult 
skull lying on its "left side, facing southwest; in a compact bundle, 
lying against the face, were all the bones of two legs. South of these, 
extended in natural position, were bones of a small person; the feet 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 31 

were turned toward the west, and the skull, having teeth much 
worn, was in its proper place. Fragments of the pelvis were traced, 
but no additional bones of either skeleton remained. 

Two feet above the bottom, 5 feet southeast of the center, was a 
pile of bones which included ribs, arms, legs, and skull of a child. 
The lower jaw lay teeth upward, with the chin against the back of 
the skull, which rested on its left side, with the face toward the east. 
Only a few of the second teeth were through the bone. 

On the bottom, 8 feet east of the center, was a decayed skull; no 
traces of bone were found near by. 

Nine feet southeast of the center, on the natural surface, were a 
few teeth not at all worn. Eleven feet south of west from the center, 
18 inches above the bottom, was a flat rock 12 by 18 inches. Under 
this lay the fragments of an inverted pot, and close to it, but not under 
the stone, was a "cocoanut pot" a of a pint and a half capacity. 

Twelve and a half feet east of the center was the end of a grave 
cover extending 6 feet toward the southeast; its width was 2 feet 
4 inches. This was composed of 17 large slabs, which had sunk in 
along the middle line, as the result of the decay of supporting tim- 
bers. Under these were 5 other slabs or blocks of stone, one at the 
top of the head, one against the right shoulder and the side of the 
head, and the others by the side, of a skeleton which lay on its back 
on the natural surface, with the head toward the southeast. The 
right hand was at the breast, the left hand on the neck ; the legs were 
slightly flexed and lying to the left. This skeleton was the largest 
and best preserved yet found; from crown to ankle, a c nearly as 
could be determined, it measured 5 feet 9 inches. The shoulders 
appeared to be of unusual breadth, but displacement prevented 
accurate measurement. Between the right elbow and hip lay the 
shoulder blade of a deer and fragments of a thin, dressed bone 
apparently from the same animal. Most of the skull was crushed 
and decayed, though a portion of the front part, and the lower jaw, 
were fairly solid. In the upper jaw were 16 teeth, all sound except 
1 bicuspid;' in the lower jaw, 15 of the regular set, besides 2 super- 
numeraries, one of which has its crown on the same level with the 
others, the remaining one being embedded in the bone (see fig. 20). 

Fourteen feet south of the center were 42 stones, the bottom rock 
resting on the natural surface ; these varied in weight from a pound 
to 50 pounds. They were rudely piled to a height of 18 inches over 
a space extending 4 feet 6 inches northeast and southwest with a 
breadth of 2 feet 6 inches; the pile may have been higher originally, 
as the upper stones had been disturbed by the plow. The interspaces 

a By "cocoanut pot" is meant one having a pointed bottom, resembling in shape a cocoanut with one 
end cut off. In some specimens the top is more or less flaring. Many of the pots or vessels found in this 
region are of approximately the size above mentioned, and most of them, whatever the size, are of the 
shape described. 



32 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

were closely packed, with earth. Under the stones were a few frag- 
ments of a child's bones; not all the teeth were cut; about the head 
were beads made of small sea-shells. 

In a few places in this mound, as in other mounds along the river, 
were dark lines or streaks resembling old sod, indicating that these 
mounds were built intermittently; certain burials were made, and 
afterward other interments were made above these. This feature is 
not unusual, some tumuli containing evidence of several periods of 
building. 

MOUND NO. 7 

This mound was 133 feet southeast of no. 6. . 

From the apex to the bottom of the slope measured 20 feet; the 
height was 4 \ feet. Several large rocks were scattered over the 
slope. 

Seven feet west of south from the center, a foot above the original 
soil, were small leg bones; a foot nearer the center were larger ones. 
Five feet from the extremities of these, or about south of the center, 
were fragments of two skulls. The teeth of the one in line with the 
larger bones were much worn, while those of the other were worn but 
slightly. In each skull at least one tooth was not worn at all, indi- 
cating early loss of the tooth opposite. Close to the smaller skull 
was a small pot. Stones were found at various points near the top 
of the structure. Removal of all the earth over and about these 
stones disclosed part of a vault, constructed by setting large flat 
rocks on end around three sides of a space nearly square, about 6 feet 
each way, the southwest side, that toward the river, being left open. 

All except the southeast wall and a portion of the northeast wall 
had been destroyed by relic hunters. The portion left is shown in 
plate 4. The southeast wall was braced at the bottom on the 
outside by earth on which were placed flat stones, as seen in the 
figure. Nine feet west of the center, a pavement of two large and 
two small slabs constituted the remaining bracers of the northwest 
wall. The vault seems to have been made for the two bodies men- 
tioned, as no other burials were found in it. Whether by accident 
or design, the vault was not properly "centered," being situated 
entirely in the southwest half of the mound, on the verge of the 
steep slope, with the earth covering mostly to the northeast. 

When all the stones were removed and the earth was leveled, the 
east corner of a grave was found 2 feet 8 inches south of the center. 
This grave was somewhat irregular in outline, but rudely rectangular 
along the top, measuring 6 feet 10 inches northwest and southeast 
by 3 feet 4 inches across. It had been dug through the surface earth 
and 16 inches into the hard sandy subsoil. The lower part was 
more regular in form than the upper, the sides and ends being nearly 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 4 




STONE GRAVE COVER IN MOUND NO. 4 




SOUTHEAST AND PART OF NORTHEAST WALL IN MOUND NO. 7, LOOKING EAST 

FEATURES OF DAWSON MOUNDS NOS. 4 AND 7 



fowkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 33 

straight. Fragments of bone were found here and thereon the bottom, 
but only a fragment of skull near the west end and two worn teeth near 
the center could be identified as human. Some of the bones seem to be 
those of a deer; there was also a piece of turtle or terrapin shell. 
Beside the skull were fragments of a pot. The east end and corner 
of this grave lay beneath the end of the wall ; before being molested 
the vault had covered probably half of it. 

MOUND NO. 8 

This mound was 70 feet south of east from no. 7. It was 25 feet 
in diameter and 18 inches high. 

At the center was the east end of a grave dug into the hard sub- 
soil, in which was a decayed skull with a pot on each side. One of 
these pots, which stood upright, held its shape, although badly frac- 
tured; the other lay on its side, being crushed flat. In the bottom 
of the latter pot was carbonized matter, apparently vegetable, and 
the tooth of a deer. The grave extended west about 6 feet; here 
and there were traces of bone, including half the shaft of each femur. 
Southwest from the center 6 to 7 feet were fragments of bones, two 
skulls being represented ; beside one of these were the small fragments 
of a pot. 

At the same distance to the east was the inner side of an area 3 
feet 4 inches north and south by 18 inches east and west, covered by 
six stones; these were somewhat below the natural level and had 
partially settled into a grave dug into the subsoil. In this grave, 
with the head toward the south, lay the skeleton of an infant whose 
first teeth were not through the bone and whose clavicle was only 
2j inches long. 

MOUND NO. 9 

This mound was 50 feet approximately east from no. 8. It was 
35 by 45 feet, the longer axis extending south of east, and 3 feet 
high ; the natural slope had been much altered by cultivation. 

On the natural surface, 6 feet east of the center, was a skeleton 
about 5 feet 6 inches long, extended on its back, with the head 
toward the south; on the left side of the skull was a pot, standing 
upright, but broken into several pieces by pressure. An entire 
pot, also upright, was found 7 feet west of north from the center, 
at the bottom. 

At several points projecting rocks, apparently belonging to segre- 
gated graves, were distributed over an area 30 feet east and west, 

a In many cases bones of very young children are found in a much better state of preservation than those 
of adults. The skull of this infant, though not thicker than ordinary blotting paper, and much fractured 
and distorted by pressure of earth, was not crushed, and a larger proportion held together than is usual 
with heavier bones. While the deficiency of lime accounts for the plasticity, it would seem that this must 
result in a more rapid dissolution and disappearance of the animal matter. 

5780— Bull. 37—10 3 



34 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 37 



with a maximum breadth of 21 feet, reaching nearly to the east margin 
of the mound. When cleared off, these rocks were found to lie 
entirely to the west of the center, there being but few in the eastern 
half, and those superficial. At the top the rocks were in the form of a 
rough wall of irregular height, inclosing a space 9J feet southeast 
by 7 feet northeast. The northeast wall was straight for 8 feet 9 
inches; the northwest wall for 4 feet 10 inches; the southeast wall for 
4 feet 9 inches; the two corners of these three walls were somewhat 
rounded. The southwest wall, 10 feet long, had a tolerably regu- 
lar outward curve. The above dimensions are all inside measure- 
ments; the corresponding outside measurements were: Northeast 
wall, 1 1 feet 6 inches ; northwest wall, 6 feet 6 inches ; southeast wall, 
7 feet 6 inches; southwest wall, 14 feet. 

The general appearance of this vault, on the outside, before the 

supporting earth was removed, 
is well shown in plate 5, a. 

In clearing out the vault, 
fragments of human bones 
were found scattered through 
the earth from top to bottom. 
There were parts of 12 skulls, 
and fragments of 5 pots, the 
latter entire when placed here 
but now much broken by pres- 
sure, besides numerous pot- 
sherds. Two of the pots, one 
upright (fig. 6), one inverted, 
were near one skull. Beside 
one of the pots were part of a 
human ulna and three leg 
bones of a panther. The vault 
was 2 feet 9 inches deep from the top of the highest stone to the 
bottom of the lowest stone. In the southwest wall was a space 24 
inches wide, filled with earth, in which no stones appeared except 
three slabs along the outside, set up against the earth. This was 
the doorway or entrance to the vault, the stones in the wall at each 
side of it being regularly laid up (pi. 5, b, c). 

Along the bottom, the inside of the vault was nearly rectangular, 
the walls being about as straight as they could be made with un- 
dressed stones. The length on the bottom from northwest to south- 
east was 8 feet 7 inches; the breadth 3 feet 11 inches. The northeast 
wall was composed mainly of seven slabs, inclined slightly from the 
perpendicular to rest against the supporting earth outside; the 
largest slab was 36 by 19 inches; the longest, 41 by 16 inches. The 




Fig. G. Pot from Dawson mound no. 9. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 5 




'■:^M. — - 33 



a EXTERIOR OF VAULT 




b LOOKING SOUTHEAST ACROSS VAULT 




C DOORWAY IN VAULT 

FEATURES OF DAWSON MOUND NO. 9 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 35 

distance between their extreme outer edges was 7 feet 10 inches. 
Four of these slabs may be seen in plate 6, which shows also the 
inside face of the northwest wall. The other sides were built up wall 
fashion, of smaller rocks, most of them lying flat, though some were 
found slightly inclined on account of the unequal settling of the 
earth against which they rested. 

In this vault, as in all others investigated during the first summer, 
the walls leaned slightly outward, making the chamber wider at the 
top than at the bottom, proving that, as each rock or' row of rocks 
was placed, earth was piled against it. In fact, many stones must 
have been held up until the supporting earth was packed under 
them, since when it was removed nearly every one fell outward. 
This was especially true of the long slabs at the northeast, which 
rested against a bank of earth containing only the single row of rocks 
along the top. Yet the walls were so nearly vertical as to exclude 
the idea that earth was piled up first and then stones laid. The 
building of both parts must of necessity have progressed concurrently. 

At the northwest end, on the bottom, were two rocks — a slab 12 
by 36 inches, and a block of about the same weight; these appeared 
to have fallen in from the top, though their position might have 
been the result of design. At the southeast end were three stones on 
the bottom, reaching to each side wall. The clear space between 
these stones was 6 feet 4 inches. When they were removed, the 
distance along the floor of the vault between the end walls, with 
which they had lain in close contact, was 8 feet 7 inches. 

The northeast wall stood partly over a grave pit measuring 9 feet 
from northwest to southeast and 4 feet in width. The outer part of 
the northeast vault wall extended diagonally across it from the 
orth to the south corner. At the natural surface level, lying on the 
earth with which this grave had been filled, was a skeleton 5 feet 6 
inches long, extended on its back, with the head to the southeast. 
The teeth, though sound and strong, were considerably worn. The 
earth which covered these bones was that which held in place the 
slabs of the northeast wall. 

The grave was shallow and dish-shaped. On the bottom lay an 
extended skeleton 5 feet 4 inches long, with the head to the southeast. 
The teeth were worn flat, and the skull, though well shaped, was small. 

mound no. 10 

This mound, 50 feet east of no. 9, was 32 feet in diameter and not 
more than a foot in height. 

Loose in the earth were a side-notched, very rough chert implement, 
evidently intended for a hoe, and a specimen which from its leaf- 
shaped form and its size would be classed at once as an ordinary 



36 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

knife, except for a considerable polish on its broader end, resulting 
from use as a digging tool. 

At the center was a grave of irregular outline, 4 feet from northwest 
to southeast, 2 feet across, and 2 feet deep. The earth in the grave 
was extremely hard and tough. On the bottom lay a skeleton; the 
head was at the northwest end, resting on the left side, with the face 
turned toward the other end. Across the top of the skull lay part of 
an arm bone; the pelvis was near the center; the legs were at the 
southern end, close together, but not in proper order, the knee end 
of one being at the hip end of the other, affording evidence of a 
skeleton burial. The bottom of the grave was 12 or 14 inches wide. 

MOUND NO. 11 

This mound stood 56 feet southeast of no. 10. Its diameter at 
the base was 50 feet, and its height from 6 to 9 feet, according to the 
side on which the measure was taken from the surrounding slope. 
On the surface lay a few stones, which had been plowed up in the 
only attempt made to cultivate the mound. 

A grave a few inches beneath the summit contained an extended 
skeleton, lying on its back, with the head to the southeast. The 
body rested on flat rocks forming a pavement about 2 feet wide; 
other slabs were inclined outward around these, the outer edges, 
raised 6 or 8 inches, forming a shallow, basin-like grave. Timbers 
had been placed across this to support covering slabs which, when 
unearthed, lay at various angles directly on the bones; these bones 
were much broken and crushed and badly decayed, and the teeth 
were worn flat. The entire space covered by the stones, most of 
which were large and thick, was 6J feet southeast and northwest by 
5 feet in width. ' 

Beneath the northwest end of this grave, with several inches of 
earth intervening, was a skull, face up, the vertex being toward the 
northwest; the forehead and part of one side were burned, but other 
parts showed no marks of heat. The teeth were moderately worn. 
Directly under the skull were a femur, tibia, and fibula, and at the waist 
line several teeth, some worn to a considerable degree, some not at 
all worn, and one burned black. Southwest of the skull were other 
bones in small fragments. Outside and below the level of the south 
corner of the grave were fragments of a skull. This cranium, like 
the one partially burned, lay about 18 inches below the top of the 
mound. On the same level, a little south of the burned skull, were 
fragments of another, the outer plate burned black, the inner plate 
browned. Just beneath the former was a pile of cremated bones, 
with pieces of three pots, all hying in confusion. A foot southwest of 
these were fragments of another pot; a few inches north of this 



FOWKB] 



ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 



37 




Fig. 7. Pipe from Dawson mound no. 11. 



was a clay pipe (fig. 7). Extending northwest from the three pots 
were burned bones whose position showed that an effort had been 
made to place them in proper order; but various discrepancies, as a 
patella by the head of a femur, showed they were cremated elsewhere 
and brought here. The bones of the lower legs were less burned than 
the femora, and the lat- 
ter in turn less than the 
skull and upper parts; 
but the feet resembled 
charcoal. These bones 
and pots lay in a mass 
of hard-burned, brick- 
like mixture of clay and 
sand ; the leg bones were 
partly in this and partly 
below it in mingled 
earth, burne d e ar th , 
charcoal, and ashes — 
additional evidence that 
the cremation had taken 
place outside. The burned material extended beyond the remains 
on all sides. Clearly the earth on which the funeral pyre was 
erected, and perhaps more prepared for the purpose, had been 
gathered up and made into a sort of coffin and covering; the pots, 
possibly containing food, had been placed beside the fragments of 

skulls. In one pot was the 
head of an adult's femur. 

Under the clay pipe were 
bones burned until porous 
as cinder and sparkling like 
jet. These were slightly 
below the level of the high- 
est stones in the vault wall, 
and belonged to two bodies 
which had been laid side 
by side, extended, with the 
heads toward the southeast, 
and burned on the spot. 

F 1G . 8. PipefromDawsonmoundno.il. M ^ Quter gide of each 

skull was a pot; between the skulls was another. All these pots were 
upright, filled with earth. 

Under one of the skulls was a pipe made of soft white material, 
much like chalk; in shape this somewhat resembles the "monitor" 
type (fig. 8). 




38 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

This was the last object found above the vault walls; below it 
lay only soil, filling the vault to the top. All the remains thus far 
discovered bear no relation to the original character of the structure, 
but pertain to a subsequent ceremony. 

At the bottom of the vault were remains of a number of bodies and 
skeletons, which had been placed on the bare ground after several 
inches of the upper soil had been scraped away. At least six of the 
bodies were cremated; the others showed no signs of burning. The 
funeral rites for some of the former remains were conducted outside, 
and such portions of bone as were not destroyed by fire were gathered 
up and thrown in piles, each lot to itself. Near the northeast side 
three bodies had been laid extended, in close contact, on the back, 
with the heads toward the southeast; then a fire had been kept 
burning over them until all the bones were converted to charcoal. 
One of these bodies was that of a young person; three bone beads 
were found at the neck. Beside another of these skulls was a pot. 
While all three skulls were broken into many small pieces, they still 
held their shape fairly well. They were filled, or nearly filled, with 
earth which had worked its way into them, and as the material 
above was burned so hard that it had maintained its position, the 
fragments had not fallen apart. 

In the north and south corners were unburned bones, which had 
almost disintegrated from the effects of decay. Those to the south 
were mingled with partially cremated bones. There was likewise a 
little heap of burned bones, in small pieces, in the west corner, pre- 
senting the appearance of having been swept or scraped together, 
as, indeed, was the ca n ,e with nearly all such bones except those 
partially cremated where found. Among the bones were one whole 
pot and fragments of several others. An unburned frontal bone 
bore indications of artificial flattening, but the specimen was so small 
as to make this inference uncertain. 

The entire space between the side walls at the southwest end of 
the vault had been left free for entrance and exit until the burial 
ceremonies came to an end. It was then closed with mingled earth, 
ashes, and charcoal, piled as high as the walls and just within them, 
so as to leave the ends slightly projecting. On the outer side this 
material was held in place by stones placed slantingly against it. 
On the south side of the doorway, leaning against the wall, was a 
slab 62 inches long, 12 to 17 inches wide, and 7 inches thick. The 
lower end was sunk 10 inches below the natural surface (see pi. 6). 
On the opposite side of the doorway another rock, wider but shorter 
and thinner than that just described, had been set with its edge 
against the northwest wall. The open space between these two 
rocks, in their undisturbed position, measured 5 feet 6 inches. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 6 




NORTHWEST WALL, INSIDE, IN MOUND NO. 9 




SOUTHWEST END IN MOUND NO. 11 

VAULTS IN DAWSON MOUNDS NOS. 9 AND 11 



powkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 39 

In taking away the earth that filled the entrance fragments of 
partially cremated human bones that had been thrown in with the 
dumped material were found scattered at random; and a walnut log 
several inches in diameter, burned to charcoal after being deposited 
here, lay near the inner face, midway between top and bottom. 

When fully cleared out the vault measured from northeast to 
southwest 14 feet at the top and 9 feet on the bottom; from north- 
west to southeast, 12 feet at the top, 7 feet on the bottom. The 
height of the wall on every side was the same, 3 feet 2 inches to a 
lin? representing the average height of the tops of all the stones. 

MOUND NO. 12 

This mound was 112 feet nearly southeast of no. 11. Its meas- 
urements were 70 feet northwest and southeast, 30 feet wide, and 
slightly less than 2 feet high. At the center was a shallow hole of 
somewhat irregular outline, about 3^ feet in diameter, in which was 
a mass of bones lying in confusion. Among these were three skulls, 
in which the teeth were worn very little or not at all; in one jaw 
some of the teeth were not cut. There were no other remains in 
the structure. 

MOUND NO. 13 

This mound was 130 feet nearly south from no. 12. It was much 
the largest of the group, being 50 feet in diameter, with an original 
elevation at the center of at least 10 feet. 

The presence of many stones thrown out by previous investigators 
hinted at a central vault or stone graves. 

Southwest from the center 12 feet was a pot-shaped hole a foot 
in diameter, dug 16 inches into the subsoil. Directly south of it was a 
another hole similar in size and appearance; the adjoining margins 
were about a foot apart. Both cavities were filled with loose earth, 
and there was nothing in or about them to give the slightest clue to 
their purpose. 

A distance of 13 feet nearly north of the center were the feet of a 
skeleton which lay extended on the back with the head to the south- 
east. The feet bones, even the smallest bone of the toes, were solid 
and strong; the bones of the right leg were sound, except the upper 
end of the fibula; those of the left leg fell to pieces when uncovered; 
the portions of the pelvis remaining — constituting less than half — 
were soft; there were no traces of vertebrae or of upper extremities; 
of the skull enough was left to mark its location, but not, alone, to 
determine its character; there was not a fragment of tooth or even 
a trace of enamel. This single example furnishes convincing evi- 
dence of the futility of attempting to judge by the condition of a 
skeleton its antiquity, either absolute or relative. 



40 BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. -37 

Toward the south margin lay burned bones here and there, too 
fragmentary to identify, except a short piece of a human femur 
converted into charcoal. 

In the middle of the structure was a vault, a considerable portion 
of which was in a chaotic state as the result of the efforts of the 
earlier diggers. Possibly stone graves were made in portions of this 
mound as in no. 11. However this may be, there was good evidence 
that a minor or secondary vault had been constructed on top of the 
earth filling the principal one. So far as could be determined this 
upper vault was 5 feet 3 inches long inside and 9 feet long outside; 
it was built on- the same lines as the lower or older one. Close to 
its northwest wall, inside, were several fragments of deer bones, 
including the leg and the skull. At the bottom, a foot east of the 
center, was an adult skull, quite thick, but so crushed that its posi- 
tion could not be determined, though it seemed to face northwest, 
with the vertex toward the northeast. Close to it were beads made 
of small marine shells, and teeth of a young child. Two feet south- 
west of the skull were fragments of the lower portion of a pot which 
had been placed there upright. 

When the main walls were laid bare in their entire circuit, there 
was exposed a structure approximately quadrilateral, with rounded 
corners. The diameters were 17 feet 8 inches from northeast to 
southwest, and 13 feet 6 inches from southeast to northwest. Along 
the outside, between the points where the boundary lines would 
intersect if projected, the measures were: From south to east corner, 
18 feet; from east to north corner, 13 feet; from north to west corner, 
15 feet 6 inches; from west to south corner, 11 feet 8 inches. The 
outer boundaries of stones fell within these intersections as follows: 
East corner, 3 feet; north corner, 16 inches; west corner, 16 inches; 
south corner, 15 inches. The height from the original surface of the 
ground to the highest undisturbed stone in the upper vault was 5 
feet 6 inches; to the average level of the top of the slabs of the 
upper vault, 5 feet; to the top of the original vault, 3 feet 8 inches. 

From a point near the north corner to the east corner, thence for 7 
feet 6 inches toward the south corner, there was apparently a break in 
the outer part of the wall, a single row of rocks at the top resting on 
earth. When this earth was thrown out, the rocks fell. It was soon 
found, however, that this earth filled the same office as the outer 
stones at other points, its purpose being merely to support or brace 
the main wall, and that the outer row of stones along its top had 
been placed there as the finishing layer. 

Near the surface of the earth filling the lower vault was a charred 
log, apparently white walnut, extending from the east corner, past 
the center, almost to the opposite wall; this had been burned here, 



fowkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 41 

for while the upper part had become charcoal, the lower side was 
only scorched. 

The northern half of the vault was filled with earth — some hard 
burned, some only partially burned, the remainder free from traces 
of fire — whose thoroughly mixed condition showed that it had not 
been burned where found, but gathered from some place where a 
large fire had been maintained for a considerable time; a wagonload 
of it was of brick-like hardness. No remains were found in this deposit 
or in any part of the vault except near the bottom. Here, in the 
east corner, were partially cremated small fragments of bones; at 
least two skulls, perhaps more, were represented, and there were 
bones from all parts of the frame, mingled as if swept together and 
thrown into a basket. Among these were two bone beads an inch 
long; also, in an inverted position, a pot holding a pint, with small 
projecting points at intervals around the outer edge of the rim. In 
the south corner, in a pile, partly under a large flat rock, were frag- 
ments of cremated skull, vertebras, and arms. Northwest of these 
was an extended skeleton, not charred in the least, from which the 
arms and upper parts were missing. The burned skull was in posi- 
tion to belong to this frame; but it was very clear that all these 
bones had been burned elsewhere and carried here, since they lay in 
earth not marked in the slightest degree by fire and entirely unmixed 
with charcoal or ashes except such as had been thrown in with the 
bones. There were hard-burned feet bones at the other extremity of 
this skeleton. Altogether, appearances indicated that the head, arms, 
and feet had been removed from a body and burned, the remaining 
parts deposited in their natural condition, and then an attempt made 
to place the burned bones where they belonged. On the face of it, 
this supposition seems absurd; the idea would naturally suggest 
itself that the entire body had been laid down and a fire made over 
the head and feet only. The objections to this hypothesis are the 
lack of traces in the earth which would result from the use of fire, and 
the bundling of the partially cremated arms, vertebra?, and skull, 
instead of their presence in the places where they belonged. 

The entire bottom of the vault was covered with cremated skele- 
tons; the bones were so broken and mingled that it was impossible to 
ascertain the number, but there were at least a dozen, and may have 
been twice as many. The loose surface soil had been scraped away 
before they were deposited; they were then laid on the hard bottom 
and covered either with the same earth, or with other earth carried in 
from the surrounding slopes. Flat rocks were lying over a few of 
the skeletons, but most had no such protection. Some unburned 
bones were found at intervals, but, from their situation, all appeared 
to belong with the cremated ones. A few shell beads were found near 
the center, and there were two entire pots besides the small pieces of at 



42 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

least two others. All stages, from infancy to old age, were repre- 
sented among these corpses. The pots seemed to have been placed 
with or near certain skulls, though this is open to doubt. 

The doorway was, as usual, in the southwest wall. The north side 
was practically vertical; the south side was sloping, either through 
design or because rocks had slipped down and had not been replaced. 
(PI. 7, a.) The opening was filled with loose rocks and earth, and 
slabs were set up against the outside. 

The northwest and northeast walls were intact and well laid up. 
(PI. 7, b.) The southeast wall contained much earth mingled with 
the stones, and only part of it was found in the original order. This 
confusion is probably due to the relic hunters, as it is not at all 
likely the builders would have left the wall in the condition shown in 
the plate.. 

The rocks of the inner walls, with the exception of the southwest 
one, were much smoked and scorched, and some of them burnt; the 
marks of fire were plainly visible even on stones in the lowest layer. 
Evidently large fires were made after the completion of the vault and 
before the filling was begun. No doubt some of the bodies were 
cremated on the spot, but it was clear that most of them, at any rate, 
had been burned outside the vault; the hard-burned earth which 
filled the north end of the vault certainly had been so treated, since 
small lumps of it were scattered through the earth in the south part 
in the direction of, and in, and on the outside of, the doorway. 

As constructed, the vault measured at the top 13 feet from south- 
west to northeast, 9 feet from southeast to northwest ; on the bottom, 
11 feet 2 inches, and 7 feet, respectively. The southwest wall aver- 
aged 3 feet 4 inches in height, the three other walls 3 feet 8 inches. 
The whole structure is well represented in the illustrations. 

Every mound of the Dawson group contained more or less worked 
material loose in the earth, as flint implements, chips, and cores; 
polishing and rubbing stones; pieces of hematite; fragments of 
pottery. 

Various other undisturbed mounds exist in the vicinity of Harts- 
burg. 

MOUNDS IN THE VICINITY OF EASLEY, BOONE COUNTY 

The Easley Mounds (10) 

Lying north of Easley post-office, on the Missouri, Kansas and 
Texas railway, is a narrow ridge curving somewhat in the form of a 
horseshoe, the two ends coming almost to the railway tracks. The 
west end of this ridge is a slope, up which it is possible to drive an 
empty wagon ; the other drops off in a vertical cliff. Along the crest 
are 9 mounds — 5 of them near the east end, 4 at the curve. Six of 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



ULLETIN 37 PLATE 7 




a LOOKING NORTHEAST THROUGH DOORWAY 




h INSIDE THE VAULT, LOOKING NORTH 

VAULT IN DAWSON MOUND NO. 13 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUEI 43 

them were excavated and are numbered in the order in which they 
were opened, beginning at the point of the cliff. 

MOUND NO. 1 

This proved to be only a small heap of earth containing no remains 
whatever, yet it was plainly artificial. It was on land belonging to 
Mr. Abram Sapp. 

The remaining mounds were on land owned by Mr. W. G. Easley. 

mound no. 2 

The second mound, 390 feet north 60° east of the first, was 11 
feet in height and 80 feet in diameter. 

Two narrow trenches — one from the west, one from the northwest — 
were carried in 10 feet and connected by a cross trench. In the latter 
were found several loose flat stones, not laid in contact or in any 
particular order. Beneath them, with some earth intervening, was 
an extended skeleton a foot above the bottom of mound. It lay 
on its back, with the head toward the south and the face toward 
the west; the right arm was straight by the side, the left arm across 
the waist. The bones were large and heavy, the front teeth con- 
siderably worn, and the molars ground down on the outer face 
almost to the roots. 

A foot east of this skeleton and 2 feet above it, or near the top 
of the mound, were fragments of an adult skeleton, the teeth of 
which were much worn. 

Distant 13 feet from the west margin, 3 feet above the original 
surface, were nine large limestone slabs covering a space 2 feet east 
and west by 5*j feet north and south. These had evidently pro- 
tected a body, though no trace of bone could be found. 

Near the southeast corner of these stones, a foot lower, were bones 
of a child a few months old. The body had been placed on the 
back, with the head toward the south and the face toward the west. 
On the face lay a decayed mussel shell. 

Below the infant's bones, its west edge being directly under and 
parallel with the east edge of the stones, was a grave extending a 
few inches into the natural earth. This contained portions of an 
adult frame having the arm and leg bones extended in their natural 
position and the feet toward the north, but there was no trace of 
vertebrae or skull. The shafts of the leg bones were solid, though 
the ends fell away when they were lifted. The feet extended to the 
south end of another grave, 8 feet 9 inches long, 2 feet 6 inches wide, 
3 feet deep. On the bottom was a skeleton 6 feet long, lying extended 
on the back, with the head toward the south. Nearly all the bones, 
though quite heavy, were much decayed. The skull, which was 



44 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 37 



thicker than usual, lay on its right side, broken in pieces. At the 
neck were 6 cylindrical shell beads averaging an inch in length by 
three-eighths of an inch in diameter; under the jaw lay a piece of 
columella 3 inches long and an inch thick. 

On the original surface, just north of this grave, were portions 
of a skeleton; on the same level, still farther north, the remains of 
another skeleton. Only a few fragments of either remained. 

Loose on the bottom, 15 feet from the west margin, was a pot 
broken to pieces. 

Midway between the north margin and the center was an extended 
skeleton 5 feet 4 inches long, a on its back, with the head lying 




Fig. 9. Stone grave-cover in Easley mound no. 2. 

north of east and turned to the right; the teeth were worn flat and 
the angle of the jaw was much rounded. The body was bent to the 
right at the hips; the left femur was quite crooked. 

At a distance of 18 feet west of the center was the outer margin 
of a pile of stones covering a space 17 feet north and south by 8 feet 
east and west. These were laid flat on one another, in some places 
six or seven deep, as if intended to protect a series of graves, but 
with no attempt at orderly arrangement. The upper layers are 

a It must be understood that measurements of skeletons are only approximate. As the skull is crushed 
and the feet bones are displaced in nearly every instance, it is seldom possible to determine their exact 
limits. The popular notion that "Mound Builders," or indeed aborigines anywhere in the Mississippi 
Valley, were " giants" is entirely without foundation. Their skeletons indicate a people no larger than 
those who have; succeeded them. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 45 

shown in figure 9, looking toward the center. The earth under 
and among them was very black, but contained no trace of bone or 
other indications of burial. Similar flat rocks, which are abundant 
everywhere on the hillsides, were found at many places in the struc- 
ture; sometimes only 4 or 5, sometimes 20 or 30, placed either as a 
rude pavement, or superposed to some extent. Under some of 
these piles were marks of burials; under others, similarly laid, no 
remains whatever. There were also many stones which appeared as 
if thrown in with the earth, to fill up. Altogether, at least 25 wagon 
loads were taken out. 

On the west side, near the center, were three graves, parallel, the 
longer axes extending practically east and west. The north and south 
diameter of the mound crossed the center of the northern grave and 
the east ends of the other two. The grave farthest south was covered 
with rocks so irregularly placed that their purpose was not suspected 
until most of them were removed. This grave was the largest yet 
discovered. It measured 9 feet 6 inches in length, 3 feet in width at 
each end, 3 feet 8 inches in width at the center, and 6 feet 2 inches 
deep. The corners were somewhat rounded. A step or bench about 
16 inches high and 14 inches wide extended along the north side, 
while across the east end was a similar bench 28 inches high and 18 
inches wide. These benches were left for use by the excavators that 
they might reach the top in throwing out the earth, which was spread 
around for several feet to the east and the south. On the bottom lay 
a skeleton, extended on its back, with the head toward the west and 
turned to the right. Although the bones were in dry sandy earth 
underlying the loess, they fell to pieces at a touch. The skeleton 
measured 5 feet 9 inches long. The teeth were sound and showed 
signs of but slight wear. Under the lower jaw were six small c}din- 
drical shell beads. The tibia? did not correspond in size or shape; 
one of them showed marks of disease, being somewhat enlarged, 
with the posterior surface flattened. Some traces of white walnut 
were found. This may have been originally over or under the body. 

The middle grave lay almost exactly west of the center, its margin 
4 feet 6 inches north of that of the first; it measured 6 feet 10 inches 
long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet deep. The earth in it was dry and loose, 
seemingly a perfect preservative of bones ; but only minute fragments 
of wood, resembling ashes, or of bone, resembling coarse cornmeal, 
remained in a thin layer on the bottom. Distant 19 inches from 
the west end were teeth of a child. With these were five cylindrical 
shell beads three-fourths of an inch to an inch and a half long and half 
an inch in diameter, drilled lengthwise. 

The north grave was separated from the central one by a space 
of 5 feet 9 inches. It was 7 feet 7 inches long, 2 feet 5 inches wide, 



46 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

and 2 feet deep. The earth filling this grave was muddy, yet, 
with the exception of the skull, which was crushed flat, the skeleton 
therein was better preserved than any other found in this work. It 
lay extended on its back, with the head toward the west; the hands 
were crossed on the pelvis. This skeleton was 5 feet 7 or 8 inches 
long. 

Lying on the south bank of the last grave, near its west end, were 
two small flat rocks. Under the west one were fragments of bones 
too much decayed to identify. Under the east one lay a piece of 
scraper or small digging tool. 

It is quite probable these three graves were intended to be at the 
center of the mound; either the apex was carried too far to the east 
in constructing it, or erosion had somewhat altered its form. 

Distant 15 feet northeast of the center, a foot below the natural 
surface, on the yellow clayey subsoil, was a skeleton 5 feet 9 inches 
long, extended on its back, with the head toward the southeast, and 
the face turned to the right. The right half of the lower jaw and all 
of the upper jaw lay on a line where the sternum should have been, 
the latter having entirely disappeared. The bone above the right 
orbit showed signs of having been gnawed, so the displacement was 
undoubtedly caused by mice. The bones of the feet were solid, as 
were those of the legs except at their ends, the cellular portions being 
mostly deca}^ed. The portion of the pelvis remaining was soft. There 
were no vertebra?; the clavicles were partially preserved; the skull 
was filled with earth and partially destroyed. Apart from the jaws, 
such bones as remained were in their proper order, except the right 
tibia, which lay outside the fibula, with its front downward. It was 
the only entire bone found except some from the feet. The tibiae 
were much flattened. 

At a distance of 5 feet east of the center was a grave dug to the sub- 
soil, having thin flat rocks laid on the bottom and stood on edge along 
each side but not at the ends. On the floor were bones of an infant, 
the head toward the east; teeth were still within the bone; the clavi- 
cle was less than 2 inches long. Flat rocks lay over the body. A few 
inches above its head were fragments of a pot of about a pint capacity, 
which lay beside the skull of an adult whose body was extended 
toward the east, and whose feet were near the head of the skeleton 
with displaced jaws. 

Near the east margin, 18 inches above the bottom, under flat stones, 
was an adult skeleton, on its back; the teeth were much worn. South 
of this, on the bottom, rested the skeleton of a child of 2 or 3 years, 
with small flat stones above the head; south of this, again, another 
adult skeleton, and west of the last, 2 feet higher, that of a young 
child. All these skeletons lay with their heads toward the south. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUEI 47 

The space cleared out in this mound had an average radius of 15 
feet around the center. A considerable area on the south and west 
sides was left undisturbed. Fragments of human bones were found 
throughout the part examined. Some of these may have been gath- 
ered up from old graves; but most of them probably marked where 
bodies or skeletons had been laid, all the other portions having disap- 
peared. Only those deposits which undoubtedly belonged to inter- 
ments are described above. 

MOUND NO. 3 

The third mound, 115 feet north of the second, was 4£ feet high, 
with an elliptical base 30 by 55 feet, the longest line running north 
and south. Work was started at the south end. Almost in the 
beginning bones were found — at the west corner a bundled skeleton, 
at the east corner 6 skulls in contact. Of the latter 2 were those of 
children, one of them quite young; the other 4 were crania of adults 
of various ages. 

The entire mound was removed except a narrow strip around the 
outside. Up to the very margin were piles of stones, only a few in 
each pile, most of them over fragmentary bones; in some places 
bones were found without such covering. 

A bundled skeleton, the teeth but slightly worn, was near the cen- 
ter line of the mound, 12 feet from the end and less than a foot 
below the top. With it was a portion of the shaft of a long bone, 
having a perforation near one end, which shows characteristic mark- 
ings of aboriginal flint and sandstone drilling and rubbing tools. The 
edges of the hole are somewhat worn by a cord or thong by means of 
which it was suspended. 

Under some stones near the east side of the mound, 10 feet from 
the end, were a few small fragments of bone and a much decayed 
piece of columella drilled lengthwise. Among these fragments was 
part of an upper jaw in which the crown of the wisdom tooth was 
below the level of the other tooth-crowns, and showed no trace of 
wear; the next molar was somewhat worn, while the next two were 
rubbed flat; these comprised all the teeth that remained. This 
example illustrates the difficulty or uncertainty of judging age by 
condition of the teeth. Had these teeth been found separately they 
would have been ascribed to individuals of widely differing ages. 

On the original surface, 8 feet from the south end, were adult 
human bones in a pile, among which was a skull, crushed flat; here, 
also, were teeth of an infant and several shell beads. 

Near the west side, 15 feet from the end, a foot above the bottom, 
was a skull, much crushed, lying on its left side, with other bones 

a Even the first set, or "milk teeth," of children in our own communities sometimes show flattening 
or chiseling from wear. 



48 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[BULL. 37 




under and around it. Near the vertex was a clay pipe, shown in 

figure 10. 

At the center, 6 inches above bottom, was a sandstone pipe which 

had become so friable that it fell to pieces when the earth was removed 

from around it. North of the center 3 feet, 18 inches above the bot- 
tom, was a fragment of skull, 
near which lay the fragments 
of a pot of about a pint and 
a half capacity. When this 
was deposited it contained an 
unfinished pipe of soft rock, 
now almost disintegrated, 
shown in figure 11, a rough 
piece of hematite worked all 
over with the apparent inten- 
tion of shaping it into a cone 
or a hemisphere, and a few 
small flint chips. Close by the 

Fig. 10. Pipe from Easley mound no. 3. ^ were twQ ^ wrought flint 

knives or spearheads and the point of another. Near this pot and 
flints were upper and lower teeth, much worn, all in natural order, 
with crowns in contact, as if still in the mouth of a living person; 
but there was no trace of jawbones or of any other part of a cranium. 
Close to these were an unfinished granite celt, and a thin flint knife 
7f inches long; these 
two objects undoubt- 
edly belonged to the 
same individual and 
were buried with 
him; yet the flint is 
a beautiful specimen 
of fine, delicate chip- 
ping, while the celt 
is crudely shaped and 
roughly pecked. 
There were evidently 
two burials, the piece 
of skull first found 
being fully 2 feet 
from the teeth; and 
all the articles mentioned may have belonged either with one or 
with both. 

In several other places around the central part of the mound were 
traces of burials, some indicated by small piles of rocks. Among 
them, a foot below the present top, was an extended skeleton with 




Fig. 11. Unfinished pipe from Easley mound no. 3. 



FOWKE] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUKI 49 

the head toward the south. At one point, not accompanied by 
bones, was a piece of columella. 

At the center was a grave pit 8 inches deep, irregular in outline, 
and 4 to 5 feet in diameter. Fragments of bones found in it indi- 
cated bunched or bundled skeletons. The presence of a number of 
teeth of infants and children and of adults up to a considerable age, 
denoted at least six individuals. In several instances only the crowns 
or scraps of enamel were remaining, there being no trace of bone near 
them. Yet, lying on the bottom of the grave was part of a humerus 
so solid it could not be broken with the hands — another example, like 
that of the skeleton in Dawson mound no. 13, of the danger of 
attempting to fix even the relative date of a burial by the condition 
of the bones. 

Near the bottom, 6 feet north of the center, a pot was found in an 
upright position. A foot north of it, at same level, was a round- 
bottomed pot of less than a gill capacity, which fell to pieces; by the 
latter were part of a jaw and some teeth 
of a young child. A foot north of the sec- 
ond pot was still another, similar to the 
first, lying on its side, crushed by pressure. 
No doubt these pots and nearly all others 
found under similar conditions were origi- 
nally placed with, bodies of which every 
trace had disappeared. 

Near the north end of the structure, a 
foot below the top, was a folded adult 
skeleton. The skull lay on the right side, fig. 12. pipe from Easiey mound 
but the femora were nearly upright, extend- no - 3 - 

ing almost to the sod line, as if the body had been placed on the 
back with the legs drawn up. Rocks were piled over the frame. 
The sockets in the right half of the lower jaw were entirely closed. 
A foot from the skull, toward the northeast, and probably belonging 
with it, was the clay pipe shown in figure 12. 

Immediately under this body was a skull, lying on the right side, 
with the face toward the east; the lower jaw was in its normal posi- 
tion; the teeth were much worn and decayed. No other bones were 
found except parts of three cervical vertebras ; under the head were a 
few small disk-shaped shell beads. Some rocks lay over the head. 
Many skeletal remains were found thus partially protected, though 
some had only one stone, or at most a very few, as if for markers, 
none of them weighing more than 20 pounds, and few of them more 
than half as much. 

Near the northeast margin of the mound, with the head toward the 
east, lay the bundled skeleton of a youth whose wisdom teeth were 
not worn in the least, though the adjacent molars were. Two feet 
5780— Bull. 37—10 4 




50 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

above the bottom, at the north end ; were the leg bones of one 
person, laid in a close pile. On the natural level, 5 feet south of these 
bones, were teeth of infants or young children, in three different places, 
but all within an area a foot in diameter. No traces of bones were 
around them. 

No accurate count, or close estimate, could be made of the number 
of bodies or skeletons unearthed ; but there were at least forty. 

A greater number of hammerstones and rubbing stones was found 
loose in the earth in this mound than in any three other mounds 
opened during the season. 

The mound was composed entirely of subsoil or tough clay, very 
different from the soil of mounds nos. 2 and 4, which were built of 
surface earth from the narrow ridge and adjacent slopes, leaving only 
the underlying clay for the construction of the mound now under 
consideration. 

The central grave was probably the nucleus with which this general 
burial mound began. Not only the deposits of bones at various levels, 
but also horizontal or slightly curved streaks, like old sod lines, a foot 
or so apart vertically in several places, indicated varying periods of 
interruption of the work of construction. 

MOUND NO. 4 

The fourth mound, 190 feet north of the third, was 10 feet in height 
and 70 feet in diameter. An area 20 feet in diameter, in the central 
part, was cleared out. The natural surface and the sod line were very 
distinct, and as material taken up outside for erecting the structure 
included both dark soil and yellow subsoil, each separate deposit 
could be definitely traced. The amount carried at a load varied 
from half a peck to a peck. 

At a distance of 3 feet south of the center, 5 feet above the bottom, 
was a " cocoanut pot " of half a gallon capacity, which had been placed 
there entire, in an upright position; the size of the specimen is unusual. 

Distant 25 feet from the north margin was the north side of an 
elliptical grave 8 feet 2 inches east and west, 3 feet 8 inches north 
and south, at the top, and 18 inches deep. At each end of the grave 
were four flat rocks, not on the natural surface, but about a foot above 
it on deposited earth. One of these was half of a sandstone mortar. 
The yellow subsoil was scattered on the original surface for five or six 
feet on every side. In places it split off smooth and flat on the under 
side, because of the presence of a thin streak of white sand beneath it; 
this does not belong on the hills and was probably carried there from 
the river and sprinkled over the ground as a part of the ceremony. 

A heavy rain had fallen while the grave was still open, and another 
after it was filled but before work on the tumulus had been begun. 

The bottom of the grave measured 6 feet 10 inches long by 3 feet 
wide. Marks, still very plain, showed the excavating tools were 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUKI 51 

sharpened sticks, antler points, or dressed flints, used after the 
fashion of picks or spuds; some of the resultant channels were shal- 
lower or with flatter curves than others. 

Decayed wood or bark, as loose as dry ashes, covering the bottom 
of the grave, was all that remained of a floor on which a body had 
been laid with the head toward the east. Across the grave, resting 
on solid ground, had been placed poles and split wood to shield the 
corpse ; these had finally given way under pressure of earth above and 
had settled down at the sides and on the bottom. That they sup- 
ported the weight for some time was proved by the loose cloddy con- 
dition of the earth for 3 or 4 feet above the pit. 

The only remaining indication of burial was a small amount of bone 
dust resembling coarse cornmeal, and a few teeth, the latter from two 
persons, though they all lay together. Above the upper layer of 
wood, near one side of the grave, were a few fragments of bone, prob- 
ably not human. 

Distant 4J feet south from the south edge of this grave and parallel 
with it was the north margin of another grave. This was 7 feet 3 
inches long, 2 feet 6 inches wide, and on an average 13 inches deep. 
The bottom was very irregular or "lumpy," varying from 3 inches 
above to 3 inches below a median plane; it was rectangular in form 
except for the rounded corners; the tool marks here were of the same 
character as those in the first grave. As in that, too, the sides and 
bottom were lined with wood, or bark, or perhaps both, and traces 
of bone found therein were similarly covered. 

A foot south of the west end of the second grave was a hole 1 foot 
deep and wide, and 2 feet long, apparently the grave of an infant, 
though it contained no remains. 

The only artificial objects besides the pot found in the course of 
the excavation were a hematite paint stone, the broken sandstone 
mortar, and a few flints, all loose in the earth and not intentionally 
deposited. 

MOUND NO. 5 

This mound is at the end of the curve farthest from the river, and 
was built on the slope instead of on the summit of the ridge. The 
diameter of base was 65 feet, and the elevation 12 feet. A space 
nearly circular, averaging 40 feet in diameter, was cleared out .to the 
subsoil; fully 300 cubic yards of earth were removed, nearly all of 
which had to be loosened with picks before it could be shoveled. 

At a' distance of 18 feet east of south from the center, 18 inches 
above the original surface, was the bottom or floor of a stone cist 
(grave A) containing fragments of an adult skeleton. The skull lay 
toward the east and projected beyond the stones. At the foot and 
along each side were stones, some of them set vertical to form the 



52 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[BULL. 37 



outline of a grave, others inclined at various angles as if a cover had 
fallen in. The tibiae, though in better condition than the other bones, 
were much swollen as if from rheumatism. Beside the pelvis were 
fragments of an infant's skull. 

West of south 16 feet from the center, 4 feet above the original 
surface, were decayed pieces of skull and of bones of the feet, about 
5 feet apart, with no other bones between them (grave B). A flat 
stone lay over the skull and several such stones over the bones of the 
feet; the latter, thus protected from percolating water, were tolerably 
sound, even to the phalanges. Only a few teeth, not much worn, 
were found with the skull. A round-bottomed pot of about a quart 
capacity had been placed upright by the right side of the chest. At 
the left side of the head, at a slightly lower level, was an inverted 
"cocoanut pot" of about half a gallon capacity. 

Under the feet of this skel- 
eton, at a depth of 2 feet, lay 
the upper portion of an 
adult's skull; it was not con- 
nected with a burial, but was 
lying loose in the earth. On 
the same level as this piece 
of skull, 6 feet northwest of 
it, was the large clay pipe 
seen in figure 13. Nothing 
else was found about either 
the skull or the pipe. 

Directly under the head of 
grave A were the teeth of two 
adults, one set worn nearly to 
the roots, the other set worn 
scarcely at all; a foot east of these were parts of two other sets sim- 
ilarly denoting different ages; traces of bone were found extending 
toward the west. All these remains were in a grave only a few 
inches deep. 

Distant 20 feet slightly south of west from the center, in a grave 
(C) extending less than a foot below the surface, was the skeleton of 
a child about two years of age. In a similar shallow grave (D), 18 
feet east of the center, was an extended adult skeleton, lying on the 
back, with the head toward the south; the skull, which was lying on 
the left side, though slightly crushed by pressure, was in much better 
condition than any other found during the summer's work. Only a 
few stumps of teeth were in the upper jaw, which crumbled away, 
though the teeth remaining in the lower jaw were fairly well pre- 
served. Eight feet south of this skull, a foot above the bottom, 
were fragments of several teeth and of jawbones, with no other bones 
around them. 



Sot^* MJ$HB 




^Vi> v > ''4hH^B 




KV^^.^gBHH 








- ~^T<4lwWP^ftHMMW^ ^^^BFrW&ifRmlZA 


•,' jStSKkHH IS^wajHaCT^^^r 


■ 


, .'>->^igH 


■"'"tSS ffipP^ 



Fig. 13. Pipe from Easley mound no. 5. 



iowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 53 

On, slightly under, and within a foot above, the natural surface, at 
various points on the east, west, and south sides of the mound were 
found teeth (nearly all milk teeth), most of them worn either slightly 
or not at all, and without the roots, which had disappeared. 

Six feet south of the center, a foot above the bottom, was a mass 
of bunched bones in utmost confusion. Teeth and femora found 
among these had belonged to at least three adults, a youth, and a 
child. The bones had been laid on wood or bark and covered with 
the same material. Some of the adult teeth were very large and all 
the teeth were remarkably well preserved, while most of the bones 
were as soft as wet earth. 

Distant 3 feet north of the center, 6 feet above the bottom, were 
traces of an adult skeleton, with the head toward the west. 

Beneath the mound, at the center, was a grave pit measuring 6^- 
feet by 8 feet, the longest line running nearly east and west. This pit 
was quite shallow, extending nowhere more than 9 inches into the 
subsoil. The sides were somewhat curved and the corners rounded, 
making it between an ellipse and a rectangle in form. The earth for 
3 to 4 feet above the pit was very loose, proving that there 
had been a temporary protective structure of wood. The bottom 
had been covered with bark or wood, which extended up the sides 
and around the margin. On this were two adult skeletons, lying 
extended on the back, with the heads toward the west. The skulls, 
which had been thick and strong, were crushed into small pieces. 
Enough was left of the one to the south to show that it was very 
narrow, with low, sloping forehead, and eyes unusually close together. 
This skeleton lay so close against the margin of the grave that it was 
bent sidewise at the hips to conform to the curve. At the left side of 
the other skeleton, lying close to the north border of the grave, were a 
few fragments of bones of a child 3 or 4 years old. Near the center, 
between the two skeletons, were teeth of two young children, one an 
infant. 

On the middle line of the grave, 2 feet from the east end, was a hole 
about 12 by 16 inches and 8 inches deep. A similar hole was 2 feet 
outside of the southeast corner. Nothing was found in either cavity 
except earth which had settled in. 

At each corner, just outside the pit, was a pile of rocks, containing 
about a wheelbarrow load. There were no remains under these 
stones, which were probably in the nature of a monument. 

Most of the interments in this tumulus were remains of children or 
at least of young persons. 

mound xo. 6 

This tumulus was a cairn 2 feet high and 25 feet in diameter, 
situated 650 feet northeast of mound no. 8. 



54 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

As soon as the uppermost stones were removed, pieces of skulls 
and other bones appeared ; these were found among the rocks to the 
bottom of the mound and 6 inches in the earth beneath. Most of 
the remains were in the southwest quarter of the cairn. Not a 
whole bone was discovered except one clavicle of a child, which lay 
in soft earth fully a foot from any other bone; nearly all the bones 
apparently were in small fragments when put here. Appearances 
indicated that a number of graves had been cleared out and their 
contents, bones and earth together, brought here and scattered 
promiscuously to a depth of 6 inches before any stones had been 
placed. From this stage to the completion of the structure stones 
had been thrown in along with the subsequent burials. 

All ages were represented in the burials; there were fragments of 
infants' jaws with the teeth not through the bone; teeth worn to the 
roots; and jaws from which teeth were missing and sockets closed up. 
Bones from every part of the body lay in contact, those from old and 
young together, in many cases crushed between flat stones which 
were in so close contact that no earth had made its way in between 
them. One body, that of an infant, had evidently been buried soon 
after death; the few bones remaining were in proper position, and 
small disk-shaped shell beads lay near the head. A few flints were 
scattered here and there. 

Probably this spot, which commands an extensive outlook toward 
every point of the horizon, is the site of a communal burial, containing 
the remains of all who had died during a period of several years. 
After having been buried elsewhere in the earth, or in some cases 
perhaps after having been kept on scaffolds or about the houses, all 
the remains were finally collected and interred here. 

The Baumhoefer Mounds (11) 

Two miles directly south of Easley, on the farm of Mr. Fred Baum- 
hoefer, is a cultivated ridge running west to a precipice bordering 
the Missouri bottoms and sloping steeply to each side. On the 
crest were two mounds, having many stones on the surface. 

mound no. 1 

The mound nearer the end of the ridge was opened first. This 
stands on a point commanding an extensive outlook, hills 20 miles 
away being in plain view. 

There was so much in the construction of this mound that was 
difficult to understand, so many features whose interpretation was 
uncertain until the work was completed, that two statements will 
be submitted with respect thereto: First, a full transcript of the 
field notes; second, a description of the methods employed by the 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 8 



<^^fe- . - ■ v ■- ^t^B^ 




»-/^:^pr " 


<jBbu " 


■ i 


■ 



« NORTHWEST CORNER. PART OF TOP AND OF NORTH WALL, LOOKING WEST 




b CIST GRAVE, NORTH SIDE OF VAULT, LOOKING SOUTHEAST 




c CIST GRAVES, NORTH SIDE OF VAULT, LOOKING SOUTHWEST 

INTERIOR OF BAUMHOEFER MOUND NO. 1 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 55 

builders from the inception to the close of their labors. The first 
is perhaps unnecessary but it will assist the reader to realize the 
perplexities which sometimes embarrass an investigator. 

After carefully viewing the mound from every direction, the bot- 
tom was conjectured to be on a plane which would give the structure 
a diameter of about 50 feet, with a height of 8 feet. A trench deep 
enough to reach the yellow subsoil was started in at this level, on the 
north side. This sloped rapidly upward, and the discovery was soon 
made that the excavators were entirely outside of the mound, whose 
actual diameter proved to be not more than 25 feet, and its present 
summit only 4 feet above the base. Just within the real margin 
stones were reached extending in a fairly straight line east and west. 
At each end this row of stones turned, extending to an irregular heap 
along the south side. When fully disclosed all around, these stones 
seemed to be the bracers or outer portion of an interior vault. Meas- 
ured across the center, the space covered by them was 22 feet north 
and south by 21 feet east and west, the sides being straight and the 
corners rounded. Measured between the points where the outer edges 
would have intersected, if carried on in straight lines, the length of 
each side was as follows: North, 21 feet; west, 21 feet; south, 19 feet; 
east, 22 feet. Seeming discrepancies in these figures are due to un- 
equal projections of stones roughly laid up. On the west side, where 
the wall was highest, the distance from top to bottom was 2 feet 4 
inches. 

On the south and west sides the stones were in a compact mass, 
like a single rough, heavy wall; on the east and north sides was an 
inner wall of stones separated by a space from an outer wall which 
consisted of only a single row of rocks. This outer wall joined the 
"rough, heavy wall" at the northwest corner. On the north side, 
near the east corner, the distance between the inner and outer walls 
measured 7 feet; but within the space there were other stones which 
seemed to belong to a grave made against the. inner division of the 
wall, and separated from the outer part by about 4 feet of earth. 
These features can be made out in plate 8, a. The camera had to be 
set very close. 

When cleared off, this grave, for such it proved to be, was outlined 
on the north side and on both ends by slabs placed edge-up and in- 
clined outward, the south side being formed, apparently, by the 
inner wall, as represented in plate 8, h. The inside measurements 
on the bottom were 6 feet 7 inches by 1 foot 11 inches. In the grave 
was a skeleton 5 feet 8 inches long, which lay extended on the back 
with the head toward the east, and the feet crossed — the last-men- 
tioned feature being unusual. The remains rested on flat rocks 
laid on earth that was somewhat mixed, and about at the natural level; 
other slabs were placed over the body. 



56 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 87 

Removal of all loose rocks and earth showed that this grave did 
not rest directly against the inner wall, as first supposed, but against 
another grave similar in construction though much smaller, being 
only 10 by 29 inches on the bottom. This contained the bones of a 
child of seven or eight years. The two graves and a part of the wall, 
looking southwest, are shown in plate 8, c. 

Continued excavation revealed a burial vault filled with earth and 
constructed in the manner described below. One skeleton, a foot 
under the surface, with the head toward the west, was probably 
intrusive. 

The inclosing wall measured outside 14 feet east and west, and 10 
feet north and south. The north side was indented, the effect be- 
ing to give the structure a somewhat reniform outline; the 10-foot 
measurement was made to the actual limit, not to the point where 
a continuous line would bring it. Had the curve been uniform, the 
boundary would have formed a regular ellipse with a breadth of 12 
feet, extending to the middle of the child's grave. The average 
height of the wall inside was 2 feet 2 inches, except at this indented 
portion, where it Avas not more than a foot; but the stones were so 
well laid, and so continuous at the bottom with those on each side as 
to show that there had not been a doorway or entrance here, but 
that the wall was built as a whole in its entire circuit. Afterward, 
the single row of stones was run to include both graves within the 
general system of burials of which the vault was the principal feature. 

Under the main wall, where the incurve began, on the north side, 
was the skeleton of a young child, lying on the natural surface, with 
the head toward the east. 

Beneath the smaller grave, outside, was another dug a foot into 
the subsoil. It was 7 feet 8 inches long east and west, 2 feet 4 inches 
wide, and contained the extended skeleton of an adult about 6 
feet long, which lay on the back with the head toward the east; the 
teeth were much worn. 

Within the vault was an excavation 8 feet east and west by 4 feet 
7 inches north and south. This had contained five bodies, at a 
depth of a foot in the subsoil. At the west end was an adult skull; 
at the east end there were three adult skulls, and the teeth of an infant. 
Enough traces of other bones were found to indicate that all the 
adult skeletons were extended on the back, two of them on the earth, 
two on small flat stones. Three skulls were turned to the left, one 
to the right. At the vertex of the best preserved skull to the east, 
as if worn in the hair, were a conch or similar sea-shell about an inch 
long and fragments of a larger one too much decayed for any portion 
to be secured. The back and the left side of this skull were crushed 
and decayed; a portion of it was saved, however, as was also a jaw 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 57 

from one of the other crania. All the teeth except those belonging to 
the child were much worn. 

These skeletons were not resting on solid ground, but in an older 
grave partially re-excavated to receive them. Under them was a foot 
of filled earth, beneath which a layer of flat stones covered an ex- 
tended body having the head turned toward the east, resting upon 
undisturbed earth, 2\ feet lower than the natural level. The skeleton 
was 5 feet 6 inches long; the teeth were worn down into the gums, 
in places below the enamel. The grave was 6 feet 4 inches by 2 feet 
5 inches; thin slabs set upon edge and slightly inclined outward 
lined the sides and ends. Some of these were torn out before their 
true purpose was discovered, under the impression that they per- 
tained to the burials above. 

From so much of the mound as was cleared out fifteen wagon- 
loads of rock were hauled away. 

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION. 

A description will now be given of the work carried on by the ancient 
grave diggers, based on the preceding data. 

To begin with, a grave was dug on the culminating point of the 
ridge, near the river bluff. This was longest about east and west, 
or parallel with the axis of the spur; 6 feet 4 inches in length, 2 feet 
5 inches in width, with a depth of 2\ feet below the natural level. 
Around it thin stone slabs were set on edge, inclined slightly outward 
at the top; these may have been placed either before or after the 
interment. On the bottom was laid a corpse, about 5 feet 6 inches 
long, extended, with the head toward the east. The teeth were 
worn down below the enamel in places, a condition indicating con- 
siderable age. Above the body, as a covering or protection, were 
placed other flat stones; the grave was then filled. Afterward the 
earth filling and surrounding it was dug away to a depth of a foot 
below the top of the subsoil, over a space 8 feet east and west by 4 
feet 7 inches north and south. Along the north half of this later 
excavation were laid small flat stones on which rested two adult 
skeletons with the heads toward the east, apparently placed on the 
back. Parallel to these, on the earth to the south, was a third 
skeleton similarly placed. At the top of the head of one of these 
were two small sea shells. The skeleton of an infant lay to the right 
of the last body, its head being near the east end of the grave. The 
body of another adult had been placed near the south side of the 
grave, with its head toward the west. 

Around the bodies were rocks, some of those nearest the grave 
turned up on edge, others laid flat, and all supported by rocks and 
earth piled against the outside. They formed an ellipse modified 
by a slight incurve on the north side, whose length from east to 



58 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

west, outside, was 14 feet; the breadth to the edge of the indented 
portion was 10 feet; had the curve continued normally on the north 
the breadth would have been 12 feet. The average height of the 
wall, inside, was 2 feet 2 inches. On the north side, just east of the 
indentation, the wall passed over the body or bones of an infant, 
lying on the natural surface, with the head toward the east, probably 
placed here some time before the others were interred, as the stones 
scarcely would have been piled directly upon the unprotected 
remains. 

Outside of and close to the north wall a grave was dug a foot into 
the subsoil. This was 7 feet 8 inches long east and west, 2 feet 4 
inches wide. It contained the body of an adult about 6 feet long, 
lying on its back with the head toward the east; the teeth were 
much worn. This burial may have been prior to or contempora- 
neous with those in the vault. If the former, it was so recent that 
the site of the grave was remembered and the wall curved to avoid 
covering it ; if the latter, there was probably some good reason for 
not including it within the vault. The burial could scarcely have 
been subsequent to the interments in the vault, for it is not reason- 
able to suppose the old-time undertakers would have made the wall 
irregular in order to provide a particular final resting place for one 
who was not then in need of it. Possibly the change in direction was 
made to avoid another grave just above the one described. The 
latter, placed directly in a line which the wall would have taken had 
its curve been regular, was made of stones set edgewise and inclined 
outward at the top. The bottom, which was only 2 feet 5 inches 
long east and west by 10 inches wide, was paved with small flat 
stones. On these was laid the body of a child 7 or 8 years old. 

North of this small grave was a larger one, the contiguous sides 
bounded by the same stones, so far as the smaller one extended. 
The larger grave was 6 feet 7 inches east and west by 23 inches north 
and south. Its construction was similar to that of the grave with 
which it was in contact — a cist of stones set up on edge, out- 
wardly inclined at the sides and ends, and a level bottom of thin 
slabs, on which was placed a corpse about 5 feet 8 inches long, ex- 
tended on the back with the feet crossed and the head toward the 
east; the teeth were worn flat, some almost to the roots; the body 
was covered with thin stones. 

When the vault was filled to within a foot of the top another body 
was placed in it with the head toward the west, and the filling in 
completed." Then a supplementary wall was built, consisting of a 
single row of stones starting at the southeast corner of the vault, 
extending northward, then westward, and again joining the vault 
at the northwest corner. This wall was plainly of later construction 

"This may have been, however, a later intrusive burial. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUBI 59 

than the main vault, and was built for the purpose of inclosing the 
two cist graves which lay to the north of the latter. At the 
northeast corner the wall was 4 feet outside of the larger grave. In 
this space, as well as in the vault proper, no filling stones appeared. 
The entire area covered by the vault and by this single wall measured 
22 feet north and south by 21 feet east and west. The greatest 
height of the walls at any point was 28 inches. Finally, earth was 
piled over the whole structure to form a mound about 25 feet across. 
At the time of exploration this diameter was increased, and the 
height of the summit reduced to about four feet, though evidently 
somewhat greater originally. 

In the above description it is not intended to convey the idea that 
this work was carried on without interruption. Possibly years 
elapsed from the time of the first burial until the completion of the 
mound. 

MOUND NO. 2 

This was situated 240 feet south of east from the first. Its 
appearance (pi. 9, a) indicated an artificial structure 11 feet in height 
and 75 feet in diameter. A trench run in from the south side, begin- 
ning at a point 25 feet from the summit, at a level 9 feet lower, 
showed that the bottom ascended as in mound no. 1, though less 
sharply; material for building had been taken from the crest at each 
side, and the mound was erected on a slight natural knoll, so its 
actual elevation was but somewhat more than G feet. 

At a distance of 20 feet south of the center, on the yellow subsoil, 
were traces of an extended skeleton; within the next 4 feet were 
three other skeletons, two on the subsoil, one a few inches above it. 
These all lay. east and west; the heads of two were toward the east, 
but of the others not enough remained to show how they were placed. 

Distant 9 feet south of the center, 4 feet below the present surface 
of the mound, were fragments of bones of an adult. A foot north of 
this, on same level, were the remains of another adult, and 2 feet still 
higher and directly above were small fragments of the skeletons of 
an adult and child. All of these rested on layers of flat stones with 
similar stones above them. 

At various other places in the south half of the mound, at all levels 
from the bottom nearly to the top, were parts of human frames, 
most of them no doubt the remains of bodies or skeletons interred, 
though some seemed to have been thrown in promiscuously as if 
gathered up with the earth from shallow graves outside. In one 
place a set of upper and lower teeth were found in normal contact in 
the earth; careful search failed to reveal a trace of the skeleton to 
which they belonged; even the roots of the teeth had disappeared. 



60 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

The earth of the mound was much mixed, humus, soil, and subsoil 
appearing within the compass of a cubic foot or less. There were 
also many stones, sometimes one alone, apparently dumped in; 
sometimes two or three rather regularly laid, probably grave markers; 
occasionally ten or twelve in a pavement as if a body had rested on 
or under them. 

An unusual feature was observed in this tumulus, one that has 
been reported only three or four times in the whole history of mound 
exploration. After its completion it had been reopened to a depth of 
4 feet below its present summit, and consequently to a greater depth 
from its former apex. This excavation was basin shaped, 15 feet in 
diameter; the bottom was lined with small flat stones, on which sev- 
eral bodies were placed and covered with earth upon which a level pave- 
ment of similar stones was laid. The mound was then restored to its 
original form and a stratum of earth, mostly subsoil, spread all over 
it. The earth above the bottom stones of this intrusive burial was 
not of the same character as that below them, being looser and darker. 
Thus, the curved lower layer of stones, the level upper layer, and the 
addition of earth on the top, prove the upper part to be a later ceme- 
tery of mound-building Indians; but there was no means of deciding 
whether it was the work of the same tribe that built the mound in the 
first place, or of subsequent dwellers in the locality. 

A section across the center of the structure, showing the secondary 
burial pit and also two graves in the undisturbed part of the mound, 
toward the west, is represented in plate 9, I. 

vSome bones in the secondary pit had stones placed over them; 
others were in clear earth. Beside one of the skulls, which lay 
between stones above and below, directly under the apex, was a 
piece of a large sea shell having the edges worked smooth, and a 
piece of ocher. The best preserved bone in the entire tumulus was a 
partially decayed lower jaw from this pit. 

On the crest of the ridge, under the center of the mound, was a 
grave intermediate in form between an ellipse and a rectangle, the 
outline being not quite regular. This measured about 5 feet east and 
west, 3 feet north and south, and 2 feet deep; it was filled with loose 
sandy loam so dry as to be almost dusty — material in which bones 
should be well preserved; yet the only contents consisted of traces of 
bark, like ashes, and a few spots here and there of coarse brown dust 
which required a magnifying glass to prove it was all that remained 
of a skeleton. 

Nothing more was found in the structure except a few rocks and 
fragmentary decayed bones. 

A fourth of a mile east of these mounds, on the highest part of the 
hill, are two others, now about 3 and 4 feet high, respectively. Both 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 9 




a BEFORE EXCAVATION 




)iL . 



b SECTION SHOWING INTRUSIVE BURIAL BY THE MOUND BUILDERS 
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF BAUMHOEFER MOUND NO. 2 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 61 

are elliptical in form, one about 50 by 20 feet, the other somewhat 
less. There is also a cairn on the point of the ridge. None of these 
were opened. 

The Buesoher Mounds (12) 

On the farm of Mr. George Buescher, who lives a mile northwest of 
Easley, are seven mounds on the crest of a long narrow ridge which 
caps the river bluffs. Three were explored.. 

MOUND NO. 1 

This mound, 45 feet across and 6 feet high, was composed entirely of 
loamy surface earth. Nothing was found in the body of the structure 
except occasionally a flint chip or broken point, or a potsherd. Ten 
feet north of the center appeared a small cavity which contained 
three or four pebbles, two potsherds, and a few scraps of charcoal; 
these had evidently settled in or had been dragged there. 

At the center was a grave measuring 8^ feet east and west, 4 feet 
north and south, and 2 feet 7 inches deep. This was lined with split 
wood or bark, on which lay an extended skeleton, on the back, with 
the head toward the west and the face turned to the right. The 
body also had been covered with bark. The bones of one foot lay 
near the right knee; there was an interval of at least a foot between 
the adjacent ends of a humerus and its radius; part of the sternum, 
one clavicle, and two ribs lay beyond the outer side of the right arm. 
Other bones were in their proper positions, though the skull was 
crushed flat. From the top of the skull to the end of the tibia was 5 
feet 9 inches. Two teeth could not be found; all the others were 
sound, solid, and but little worn. The last molars had not appeared, 
and there seemed to be no room for them. On the mouth lay a rec- 
tangular shell gorget 2h by 3 \ inches, having a hole at one end and 
another at one edge, for suspension. The presence of incised lines, 
nearly obliterated, on the convex surface, suggested decorative 
markings of some kind. Under the skull and among the cervical 
vertebras were three cylindrical shell beads perforated from end to 
end, and particles of at least one other. 

About 3 feet north of the east end of this grave, lying on the yellow 
subsoil thrown out in digging it, were portions of teeth and leg bones 
of an elk — probably remains of a funeral feast; these were placed here 
after the grave was dug and before it was filled. Three feet farther 
north, in a hole a foot deep, were three roughly worked flint picks or 
digging tools, two of them having the points broken off. These tools 
were used, no doubt, in digging the grave ; with them were a leg bone 
and broken jaw of a deer, and small scraps of mussel shell. 



62 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [hull. 37 

MOUND NO. 2 

Mound no. 2 was a hundred yards west of no. 1. Its diameter was 
55 and height 8 feet. 

Distant 6 feet northeast of the center was the outer edge of a rectan- 
gular grave 8 feet 2 inches northwest and southeast, 2 feet 8 inches 
wide, and 16 inches deep. The bottom had been lined with wood, on 
which lay an extended skeleton, with the head toward the northwest. 
Most of this had disappeared; the feet bones were solid, while the 
other bones remaining had become progressively softer. The skull 
had entirely disappeared, only one tooth, worn to the gums, remain- 
ing. Against the instep of the right foot, which was turned outward, 
lay the top of the skull of a child about 4 years old; though it was 
soft and crushed, most of it was still present. Only here and there, 
however, could be found a fragment of the rest of the frame. Some 
large solid teeth, not much worn, lay at the center of the grave, but 
there was no trace of a skeleton to which these could have belonged. 
They probably represented all that was left of a skull deposited with 
the two bodies mentioned. 

At the center was a grave, nearly rectangular, with rounded corners, 
though rather irregular in outline, the sides and ends not being 
straight either horizontally or vertically; its length, northwest and 
southeast, was 9 feet at the top, 8 feet 2 inches on the bottom, its 
width 3 feet at the top, 2 feet 8 inches on the bottom, and its depth 2 
feet. In this grave, with its head to the west, was a skeleton 5 feet 8 
inches long, lying extended on the back; the teeth indicated consid- 
erable age. The bones of the skull, arms, and legs still held their 
shape; other bones were more or less decayed, and none were solid 
except some phalanges. The larger bones were rough, as if from 
rheumatism, and a joint of one finger was completely anchylosed. 

Six feet from the south edge of the central grave was the north edge 
of a third grave parallel with it; this was 9 feet long, 3 feet 8 inches 
wide, and 15 inches deep. In it lay two skeletons side by side, with 
the heads toward the west, extended on their backs, the faces being 
turned toward each other. Only fragments of bones remained, and 
these were crushed flat. The teeth of one skull were worn to the 
gums; those of the other were much less worn. 

At the west end of the grave, beyond and between the skulls, and at 
a little higher level, were several pieces of a pot which had been inten- 
tionally "killed" by knocking out the bottom from the inside. 

The three graves were made at intervals in the order here given. 
The earth from the first was thrown over the space later used for the 
second, and earth from this, in turn, over the site of the third. 

Four feet higher than the last grave, over the eastern end of it, was 
the skeleton of a child. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUEI 63 

MOUND NO. 3 

Mound no. 3 was one-fourth of a mile northwest of the first two 
mounds, at the end of the spur overlooking the river; it was 45 feet 
in diameter and from 4 to 6 feet in height, according to the side from 
which the measurement was taken. 

Near the surface on the western slope was part of a small pot 
thrown in with the earth. 

Distant 10 feet south of the center, 4 feet from the bottom, under a 
pavement of small flat stones were scraps of bone of a half-grown 
person. 

Beneath the apex was a grave 2 feet 10 inches deep, having the fol- 
lowing dimensions at top and bottom, respectively: 8 feet 3 inches 
and 7 feet 2 inches long; 3 feet 2 inches and 2 feet 4 inches wide at the 
east end; 3 feet 9 inches and 2 feet 4 inches wide at the west end. 
Lying extended on the bottom, with traces of wood and bark above 
and below it, was a skeleton, with the head toward the west, whose 
bones, though more solid in a few parts than any other bones yet 
found, were much decayed in, or wholly absent from, other parts. 
Beside the left knee were nine thin, slender, arrow-heads from five- 
eighths to nine-eighths of an inch long; judging from their position 
they had evidently been in a quiver. Beside the left side of the skull 
and at the neck were five pieces of columellas from 2f to 3J inches 
long, drilled lengthwise; also six cylindrical shell beads, which fell to 
pieces. The teeth were very little worn; one wisdom tooth had not 
grown level with the next molar, and another could not be found, 
though the shallow socket showed it had existed. " 

THE KURTZ MOUND, IN HOWARD COUNTY (13) 

Numerous mounds, some of them 15 feet in height, exist in the 
southwestern part of Boone county and in the adjacent part of 
Howard county. In most of those which have been opened by 
farmers and relic hunters, limestone or sandstone rocks from the sur- 
face and ravines near by are found in quantities. From the accounts 
given it would appear that cist graves or vaults have been found in 
some of the mounds, and many skeletons have been exhumed. The 
contents seem to have been but limited in quantity and commonplace 
in character. 

On the farm of Mr. Strother Kurtz, a mile northwest of Lloyd's 
station, which is 3^ miles west of Rocheport, are six mounds ranging 
in height from 2 to 12 feet. 

In one of these, 11 feet high and 60 feet in diameter, the central 
portion was cleared out over an area averaging 24 feet in diameter. 
Nothing was found in the body of the structure except earth and 
about four wagon-loads of stone promiscuously thrown in with it. 



64 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

Around the center was a compact pile of stones covering a space 13 
feet by 1 1 feet 9 inches, the longer axis running slightly north of east 
and south of west. (PL 10, a.) The stones, which extended nearly 5 
feet above the natural level, inclosed a vault 7 feet 9 inches long. 
This vault was -neatly rounded at both ends, the south face in as 
regular a line as could be followed with undressed stones; the north 
face curved outward'; the width was 2 feet 4 inches where the curve 
began at the west end, 2 feet 5 inches at the east end, and 3 feet at 
the center. Its general form may be seen in plate 10, b, and in plate 
11. Unfortunately, before the vault was fully exposed, meddlesome 
visitors tore away the stones at the west end, making it appear as if 
intentionally left open; as constructed, however, the two ends were 
alike. 

Inside the wall, at a depth of 21 inches, was a rock pavement on 
which were traces of a skeleton of medium size; some of the teeth 
were much worn, while others showed scarcely a trace of wear. No 
relics of any character were above the slabs, but under the one on 
which the head had lain were three cylindrical shell beads an inch 
long. When the pavement was removed it was found that it had 
rested on filled-in earth, on which the vault was built. Test holes 
dug into this and carried under the wall disclosed no other stones, 
though there were many human bones, some of which extended 
under the inner margin of the vault wall, showing they were buried 
before the latter was built. 

The wall of the grave and its outside bracer or supporting stones 
were next removed. Below the level of the pavement these were 
apparently intended for no other purpose than to limit and confine 
the earth of a mound about 3 feet high, erected as a foundation 
for the vault; consequently they were torn away without any especial 
attention being paid to their position. Too late it was found that 
they formed the outer portion of another vault whose exact inner 
dimensions could not then be ascertained; but it was considerably 
larger than the upper vault. It contained the remains of at least 
25 individuals, ranging in years from infancy to old age. Nearly 
all were laid north and south; they were found at all levels from 
the original surface to the pavement of the upper vault, which, in 
fact, rested in close contact with some of them. Scattered among 
them were fragments of partially cremated bone. The bodies seem to 
have been interred at various times after death ; in some cases bones 
were in their proper order; in others, bundled, bunched, or scattered. 
In two instances, two skulls lay in immediate contact. Two skulls, 
a jaw, and one pot were secured in fairly good condition. 

It is much to be regretted that more careful work could not be done 
in the lower vault. But the nature of this structure was not ascer- 
tained until noon of the day on which work had to close; and the 



3UREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 10 




a EXTERIOR, LOOKING NEARLY EAST 




b INTERIOR, LOOKING SOUTHWEST 

VAULT IN KURTZ MOUND 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



ULLETIN 37 PLATE 11 




LOOKING NORTHEAST 




LOOKING NEARLY EAST 

VAULT IN KURTZ MOUND 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 65 

choice lay between tearing it all out hastily, determining as accurately 
as possible the method of construction and securing what it might 
contain, or abandoning it, practically untouched, for someone in the 
neighborhood to demolish. 

MOUNDS OPPOSITE KANSAS CITY (14) 

Four miles directly north of Kansas City, lying along both sides 
of the line separating Clay and Platte counties, on the farms of Mr. 
Eugene Keller and Mr. J. P. Brenner, are 18 mounds located on a 
ridge approximately parallel with the Missouri bluffs and a fourth of 
a mile from the ends of the projecting spurs. These mounds are 
not evenly distributed, but are in subgroups of three, three, five, 
and seven, on knolls separated by slight depressions. All of them 
have been excavated to a greater or less extent by relic hunters, 
and more methodically by members of the Kansas City Academy of 
Science and others. Abridgments of published reports are presented 
below. 

Partly as a result of these reports, the impression has gone abroad 
that the stone chambers described were intended as places of occupa- 
tion, or at least as shelters, and the name "underground houses" 
has been applied to them. It seems that in some of the mounds no 
stones were found, thus casting doubt upon the residential theory. 

In an article on "The Missouri Mound Builders," Judge E. P. 
West describes the result of his explorations in the group containing 
five, all of which he excavated. Three of these contained vaults; the 
two others were composed entirely of earth. A portion of his report 
is reproduced here, as follows: 

Number one, the most easterly, contains a stone chamber seven and one-half by 
eight feet, three feet high, with a doorway two and a half feet wide in the center of 
the south wall. Within the chamber, and on the plane of the base of the wall, five 
human crania and other human bones were found. Two of these crania were on the 
west side, two on the east side, and one near the center. One of them was entirely 
pierced, probably by a small arrowhead. 

Number two contained a vault eight and one-half by eight and one-half feet, three 
and a half feet high, with a doorway two and a half feet wide on the south side. This 
chamber contained large quantities of burnt human and animal bones, burnt clay, 
wood ashes, and charcoal, extending from the plane of the base of the wall to within 
eighteen inches of the upper surface. Many fragments of human crania were found. 
One was eighteen inches below the top, better preserved than the others, and prob- 
ably an intrusive burial. 

Mound five contained a stone chamber eight and a half by eight and a half feet, 
four feet high, with a doorway two and a half feet wide at center of south wall. It 
contained a large quantity of burnt human and animal bones, burnt clay, wood ashes, 
and charred wood, all intermingled and extending entirely over the floor, at irregular 
depths. In the center of the chamber this mingled ash heap was not less than eight 
inches thick. Beneath it, on the natural surface, parts of four skeletons were found. 

« In the Western Review of Science and Industry, 1, 15, Kansas City, Mo., 1877-78. 
5780— Bull. 37—10 5 



66 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

These mounds were not covered with wood, because no traces of it are found; nor 
with stones, otherwise they would be in the vault- If covered at all, and it is highly 
probable they were, the covering must have been of the brick clay of which they are 
composed, and which is well adapted to the purpose, made into a stiff mortar and 
arched over the chamber like a bake oven, with an opening for the escape of smoke 
at the top; or else of the skins of animals, like a tent. 

Many reasons seem to justify the conclusion that these chambers were dwelling 
places as well as places for interment. The doorway in all the chambers opening to the 
south, the great thickness of the ash heaps on the floor of the chambers, the intermin- 
gling of the bones with the ashes, and the size of the chambers — are all significant facts. 
The depth of the mingled ash heaps in mounds two and five precludes the idea that 
they could have been accumulated by the ordinary funeral rites, even though pro- 
tracted for weeks. The doorway, the number of skeletons, the thickness of ashes, 
preclude the idea of a single interment, the undisturbed upper strata preclude the 
idea of successive interments at different periods. It is probable, from the situations 
in which the remains are found, covered with clay at no greater depth than the floor of 
the chamber, that successive interments, after the soft parts of the body had decayed, 
were made while the chamber was occupied as a dwelling, and so near the surface 
of the floor that the bones were sometimes reached by the domestic fire. 

Another of the mounds above mentioned, which stood in Mr. 
Keller's garden about a hundred yards north of his house, was opened 
by a party of students, apparently in the summer following Judge 
West's explorations. They made the following statement of their 
discoveries to the Kansas City Star : 

On the farm of Mr. Eugene Keller in Clay county, a mound was opened and five 
skulls were found, with other bones. As no evidence of fire was found, it is supposed 
that the bodies were not cremated, as were those in the mound opened by Judge 
West last October. One skull was found in an upright position, and almost under it 
were the leg bones. This seems to prove that the body was placed in the mound in a 
sitting posture. Another skeleton was found lying at full length along the side of the 
wall. Between twenty and thirty teeth were found, all in an excellent state of pres- 
ervation. They were all very much worn, some being worn flat, almost to the roots. 
* * * 

The mound contained a square stone chamber, facing almost east and west, with an 
entrance on the eastern side. It is supposed that these mounds were covered with 
earth, supported by a network of branches, and held in place by stones. This theory 
is upheld by the fact that the bones are found so shattered, and that some of the skulls 
were crushed, also by the number of stones found in the mound. 

In order to ascertain, if possible, the exact nature of the chambers, 
so that a comparison might be made with those farther down the 
river, described in preceding pages of this report, several of these 
mounds were carefully investigated. It was not to be expected 
that skeletons or associated objects would be found if the excavators 
had been thorough in their work; but it could be seen that portions 
of the walls remained in several places, and there was a bare chance 
that something might be discovered which would give a clue to the 
manner and purpose of the construction of these mounds. 

All measurements given in relation to these different groups pertain 
to the mounds as they exist after being cultivated and otherwise 
altered in form. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 67 

The Keller Mounds 

Of the eighteen mounds, eleven are on the Keller farm. These 
range from 20 to 40 feet in diameter and from 2 to 5 feet in height. 
Three of them were examined. 

MOUND NO. 1 

The first mound was 400 feet north of Mr. Keller's house, near that 
referred to in the above account from the Star; it measured 40 feet 
in diameter and 3 feet in height. A slight depression in the top 
indicated previous excavation. 

Ditches were run in from the north and the east until rocks were 
reached; the rock deposit was followed around its entire outline, 
which was quite irregular, with an average breadth of 26 feet. 

The central space, filled with mingled earth and stone, was next 
cleared out. Unfortunately, the earlier explorers, in the excess of 
their zeal, not only had dug entirely below the base level of the 
mound, but had torn down most of the wall; they had then thrown 
back promiscuously the material handled, leaving the interior in so 
chaotic a state that nothing could be learned of its original appearance. 
Only 7 feet of the wall was left intact along the north side; this was 
about 3J feet high. Many of the stones composing this wall were 
larger than one man could lay up, and the face was practically 
vertical. 

In the south wall was an entrance or doorway; only the east side 
remained. A minor or wing wall extended several feet from this, 
gradually lowering and narrowing. Evidently a walled passage- 
way the width of the entrance had formerly existed, through which 
it was necessary to pass in order to enter the vault. The south wall, 
east of the doorway, was intact to the southeast corner of the vault. 
The distance from the corner of the doorway to the. north wall was 
about 1 1 feet ; an exact measurement could not be made. 

MOUND NO. 2 

This mound was on a slope 30 yards east of no. 1 ; it measured 30 
feet in diameter, a foot in height on the upper, and 3 feet in height on 
the lower, side. 

When the sod and upper earth were cleared away, there was 
revealed a rough wall, having some stones inclined at various angles, 
others laid flat." The area covered was shaped like a pear with a 
portion of the stem end cut off; it measured 22 J feet from north to 
south and 15 feet from east to west. The extension, whose direction 
was down the slope, was the prolongation of two wing walls leading, one 
on each side, from a doorway in the south wall. Through this was 
reached a vault about 1\ feet square. The doorway was barely wide 



68 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

enough to walk through, but as the bordering stones were all out of 
line, the passage was no doubt more nearly adequate when made. 

The southwest and northeast corners of the vault were intact, as 
was the west corner of the doorway, where not disturbed by the 
plow. The outside and top of the wall on the west side are shown in 
plate 12, a. 

Behind the stones forming the inner face was a backing of earth; the 
outer rocks were partly piled against this and partly laid on it. 

As in the first mound, the interior of the vault was so torn up 
that its method of construction could not even be guessed at. The 
walls showed marks of intense heat; small fragments of partially 
cremated bones were found; and there was half a cartload of earth, 
some of the pieces as large as a gallon bucket, burned hard as a 
brick. This condition could result from the cremation of a body 
incased in or covered with clay; such finds have been reported. 
But numerous smaller pieces, from the size of a pea to that of a hen's 
egg, burned equally hard, and scattered here and there in deposited 
earth previously undisturbed and showing no marks of fire, must have 
been carried in from the outside in the process of building; and per- 
haps all of it was. However this may be, a great fire had been main- 
tained for a considerable time within the vault. 

Several pieces of siliceous iron ore were found, the interior hard, 
the outside soft and rubbing off easily. Some of the stones were quite 
red where the "paint" had settled on them. This may explain the 
red coloring matter on "painted bones" found elsewhere in this 
vicinity, the ocher; softened by the action of water and carried along 
by the same agent, having been deposited on the bones. 

The walls of this vault, while not now vertical, seem to have been 
laid up so, and afterward pushed in or out by pressure of earth and 
growing trees. The greatest height of any part was 2\ feet. 

MOUND NO. 3 

Three hundred yards northwest of Mr. Keller's house were three 
small mounds close together. No stones appeared around one of 
these; in another the defaced walls of a vault were visible. The 
third seemed not to have been disturbed to any serious extent; when 
excavated by the writer it was 40 feet in diameter and 2 feet in 
height. 

The central portion was first cleared out, when a vault was disclosed 
which measured 8 feet north and south by 6 feet 9 inches east and 
west, the walls following almost exactly cardinal lines. The stones 
were quite large, particularly on the north side where four of them 
made up the entire height of the wall (pi. 12,6).. The greatest eleva- 
tion at any point was 26 inches, the least 21 inches; but some stones 
may have been plowed off the top. On the south side was a doorway 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



ULLETIN 37 PLATE 12 




a OUTSIDE AND TOP OF WEST WALL IN MOUND NO. 2 







b NORTH WALL, AND CLOSED DOORWAY IN SOUTH WALL, IN MOUND NO. 3 




C SOUTH WALL, DOORWAY, AND PASSAGE IN MOUND NO. 3 

FEATURES OF KELLER MOUNDS NOS. 2 AND 3 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 69 

2 feet 4 inches wide at bottom and 2 feet 7 inches at top ; the sides 
were somewhat irregular, as if laid up hastily or carelessly, but the 
stones were much disturbed, so the vault may not have been in the 
same condition as when built. 

At the bottom of the vault, in a shallow, irregular depression about 
2 by 4 feet, having its greatest length from north to south, were small 
fragments of partially cremated bones of an adult and also of a child 
5 or 6 years old, scattered about over the surface as if carelessly 
thrown in, though it is quite possible their condition was due to 
former excavating. 

Beneath these bones was a grave reaching from the east to the 
west walls, 2 feet wide. In this, extending its full length, lay four 
thin slabs 2 feet below the bottom of the wall; a similar slab at the 
west end stood nearly upright, its surface in line with the inner face 
of the vault. These rocks were not on the bottom of the grave, but 
4 inches above it, that amount of earth having been filled in before 
the stones were placed. No remains were found in the grave either 
above or below the pavement except here and there a fragment of 
burned bone too small to identify. 

After the burials were made and the vault was filled, the doorway 
was closed by means of earth and stones thrown in promiscuously, as 
shown in the illustration. 

Stones around the outside of the vault covered a space 18 feet 
north and south by 15 feet 4 inches east and west. The vault wall 
was apparently upheld entirely around its lower part by earth upon 
which the stones were placed; but as none were removed except 
from the doorway, this is only a surmise. 

All the walls were well laid up. The inside of the doorway, the 
south wall, and the two southern corners are shown in plate 12,c. 
The west and north walls and the northwest corner were equally dis- 
tinct. It will be observed from the last figure that the corners are 
abutting and not interlocking, and that only occasionally are stones 
so placed as to break joints; even when they do so the construction 
may not be the result of design. The south wall abutted on the ad- 
joining walls at each end; the north wall against the east wall; the 
west wall against the north wall. It appears, therefore, that the 
walls were erected in this order : East, north, west, while the south 
wall may have been either the first or the last laid up. 

The Brenner Mounds 

Mr. Brenner's farm lies next to Mr. Keller's on the west, and in- 
cludes the terminal portion of the ridge, which slopes toward the 
river on one side and toward Line creek on the other. Along the 
crest are seven mounds, all of which were explored by Prof. G. C. 
Broadhead "in the summer of 1878, in company with members of the 



70 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[BULL. 37 




Kansas City Academy of Science and the Kansas State Academy of 
Science." 

Of the three mounds farthest east, Professor Broadhead says in his 
report: 

* * * they seemed to be nicely rounded earth mounds, but digging into them 
each disclosed regularly built walls about three feet high, exactly at right angles to 
each other, and enclosing a space 7 feet 9 inches square. The walls were constructed 
of thin, even layers of limestone laid flat upon each other, and built up with a regular 
perpendicular face, in fact much more true to the line than many so-called masons 
would place them. The crypts appeared to have been built above ground. * * * 
In No. 3 several skulls and one good skeleton were found, 
together with fragments of others. With the exception of this 
one skeleton all seemed to have been buried in a sitting pos- 
ture, or with knees bent, the hands close to or resting on the 
knees. * * * This vault had an entrance 3 feet wide 
opposite the eastern side, as represented in figure 9.6 

The vault in Mound No. 2 contained a large quantity of 
charcoal, with fragments of charred bones, and much of the 
clay was reddened by burning. This was evidently a crema- 
tion vault. 

The vault in Mound No. 1 is similar in shape and contents to 
that of No. 2 * * *. The vaults in each of the mounds 1, 
2, and 3 had entrances or openings in the wall 3 feet wide, extending to the bottom 
of the wall. * * * 

Mound No. 4, the largest, is about 5 feet high and 40 feet in diameter, and is built 
entirely of earth. 

Mound No. 6 was similar to 1 and 2, and contained a concealed vault 7 feet 9 inches 
square, but without an entrance. Eight human skulls were obtained from this vault, 
but no complete skeleton, although 
some bones were exhumed in a fair 
state of preservation. In digging into 
this vault a few flags of limestone were 
found a few inches below the surface. 
Eighteen inches below was another 
fragmentary roof of limestone, beneath 
which skulls and portions of vertebrae were disclosed. The flagstones were not reg- 
ularly arranged nor quite close to each other, but only a few appear to have been 
placed above the bones, and then earth was heaped upon them. Some fragments of 
flagstones were also found in No. 2, perhaps the remains of a former roof. 

Of the mounds described by Professor Broadhead, two were 
examined. As stated, his "No. 3" reappears here as — 



Fig. 14. Broadhead's plan 
of vault in Brenner 
mound no. 1. 




^-- &FIFCT--*, 

Fig. 15. Broadhead's section of Brenner mound no. 1. 



MOUND NO. 1 

This mound was 38 feet in diameter and 4 feet in height, but, like 
all the others, had been originally higher. The stones of the walls, 
projecting here and there above the grass, could be traced in most 
of their circuit. The space inclosed by them was nearly filled with 

a Smithsonian Report for 1879, 352-354, Washington, 1880. 

l> Reproduced here as figure 14. Professor Broadhead's view of a section of the mound is reproduced 
here as figure 15. Mound no. 3 of Broadhead corresponds to mound no. 1 of the present writer. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 13 




EAST WALL, DOORWAY, AND PASSAGE IN MOUND NO. 1 




NORTH WALL, SHOWING ABUTTING STONES, IN MOUND NO. 2 

FEATURES OF BRENNER MOUNDS NOS. 1 AND 2 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 71 

earth containing many rocks torn from the walls. Removal of this 
debris disclosed a vault 8 feet 4 inches east and west by 8 feet north 
and south. The west and north walls had been partially demolished, 
the former having been pushed inward at the middle by a tree which 
had grown on it; the east wall was intact. The greatest height of 
the wall was 3 feet. The walls abutted at the corners. 

The doorway on the eastern side measured 2 feet 7 inches wide at 
bottom. Access to it was between two wing walls, extending east- 
ward for a distance of 6 feet 6 inches from the inner face of the vault, 
while bracer stones, roughly laid, extended 3 feet farther in the same 
direction. Neither wing wall was laid up smoothly or regularly. 

On the south side, the width from the inner face of the vault to 
the outer margin of the brace rocks was 6 feet. The other sides were 
not cleared off; but these measurements indicate for the entire area 
covered by stones a space about 20 feet north and south by 24 feet 
east and west, the excess of the latter dimension over the former 
being due to the extension of the wing walls on each side of the en- 
trance. 

In plate 13 are shown the east wall and doorway, inside. 

There is no mention in Professor Broadhead's report of the fifth 
mound opened by him. His "No. 6 " must have been the last or most 
western of the group, as the sixth in order had a well-defined doorway ; 
it is here described as — 

MOUND NO. 2 

This mound stood on a northward-sloping surface. It measured 
45 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height. One inside corner of the 
vault was visible, the stones apparently not having been displaced. 
When the debris was thrown out it was evident that only the east 
and west walls, including a corner of the doorway, were injured. 
The other walls were in practically their original condition, only a 
few stones along the top being somewhat out of position. Across 
the center the vault measured 8 feet each way; the sides followed 
nearly cardinal lines, though not parallel, the east and west walls 
showing more divergence than the other two. Each wall in succes- 
sion was measured at top and bottom, the results being: North wall, 
8 feet 6 inches and 7 feet 11 inches, respectively; west wall, 8 feet 7 
inches and 7 feet 4 inches; south wall, 7 feet 5 inches and 7 feet 7 
inches; east wall, 8 feet and 7 feet 10 inches. These dimensions 
show there was considerable outward slope to the south and east 
walls while the other two were perpendicular. 

The highest vertical measure of any face — the same on north and 
west sides — was 3 feet 8 inches. 

The walls in this structure were laid up more accurately than in 
any other examined. 



72 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

On the bottom of the vault were four flat stones, under which were 
femora and parts of skulls of two adults, and a femur of a person 
half-grown. All these had been dug out and thrown back at an 
earlier exploration. They were solid and fresh-looking, though only 
the shafts of the femora remained; all were much gnawed by mice. 

The doorway in the south wall was 2 feet 3 inches wide at the 
bottom. This also was reached between wing walls, which were 
well laid up for 3 feet 10 inches from the inside of vault, and con- 
tinued irregularly for 3 feet farther. The brace rocks of the main 
walls were larger than found elsewhere, and placed in a more orderly 
manner. The measurements between their outer margins were 19 
feet 5 inches north and south by 15 feet 2 inches east and west. 
The north wall with abutting stones is shown in plate 13, and the 
south wall inside, with west wall of doorway, are shown in plate 14. 

It is clear that these misnamed "underground houses" are of 
essentially the same character as the burial vaults in Boone and 
other counties to the eastward. The only point of difference is in 
the wing walls extending outward from the doorway, a feature that 
has not been noted elsewhere. There can be no doubt that all these 
"vaults" were intended for burial places, and for that purpose only. 
Though careful watch was kept, no indication was discovered in any 
of them of supports for a roof or other covering to shelter the interior 
from the weather. Neither was there trace of a fire-bed or of 
the natural accumulation of rubbish which would result from occu- 
pancy for living purposes. The diminutive size of the chambers 
is also against the theory of "houses;" though large enough to crawl 
into, yet if poles had been laid across even at a sharp angle and 
thatched with grass or weeds, there would have been no room to 
stand or move about; a skin wigwam would be more commodious 
and satisfactory. The condition and appearance of the earth in 
all of them prove it was carried in; it did not fall from, or with, 

a roof. 

The Klamm Mound 

North of Brenner's is Mr. Klamm's farm. On a narrow ridge on 
his land stood a mound about 25 by 30 feet and 4 feet high. Several 
years ago the north end was much dug by relic hunters, and in the 
fall of 1906 the remainder of it was torn out. All this work was done 
recklessly; shortly after the last spoliation, among the earth and 
stones thrown out were fragments of bones indicating the presence of 
the remains of at least four persons, one of large stature. There were 
three jaws, two those of persons not fully grown; in the other jaw the 
molars had disappeared so long before death that the cavity in the 
bone had entirely closed. Broken pottery, scattered around, showed 
by varying decoration that not fewer than four vessels were de- 
stroyed. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 73 

The last excavator could remember that he had found — 

Nine whole pots, but broke seven of them in getting them out. One of the pots wad 
much larger than the others and had angels stuck on all around; but these all dropped 
off. There was a lot of shells and shell beads, yellow paint, some flints, hoes, arrows, 
and things like that. There were three whole skulls, but these broke all to pieces in 
getting them out. 

The "yellow paint" was red hematite, which had colored some of 
the bones and gave the impression they had been painted. This was 
due altogether to natural action of water soaking through. The 
"angels" were small, crudely made objects, apparently rude attempts 
to represent heads of birds, attached to the pots after they were par- 
tially hardened. 

DISTRIBUTION OF VAULT-GRAVES 

The researches so far made, described in these pages, show the stone 
vaults to extend from the great bend of the Missouri river at Kansas 
City, to the mouth of the Gasconade. Mounds containing "stones," 
or ' 'stone graves," are reported beyond these limits in both directions; 
but whether these are vaults, cist-graves, or merely loosely piled 
stones, can not be ascertained with certainty from the reports. 

There is said to be an aboriginal burial-place near Eureka Springs, 
Ark., where "walled pens of stone" contain skeletons covered with 
a slight thickness of earth, but with no mound over them. It is 
reported also that the Osage Indians formerly disposed of their dead, 
or of some of them, in this manner. Osage once lived along the 
Missouri, and moved up the river which bears their name. 

One of the writer's workmen stated he had ' 'seen Indians out in the 
Territory build a wall like these we are digging out, and put the dead 
inside." 

These vague reports are merely recorded here; they are not given 
as facts, or indorsed as being worthy of consideration in the absence of 
more definite knowledge. 

So far as we have accurate or reliable information, these vaults are 
known in only two other Missouri counties. 

In the Smithsonian Report for 1879 (p. 351) Professor Broadhead 
describes — 

* * * an ancient walled burial place situated on the summit of a ridge 250 feet 
in height, which rises on the north side of Salt river,** in the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 11, township 55, range 3 west. The walls are constructed of rough limestone 
taken from the subjacent strata of the hill, and they enclosed two vaults, each 9 feet 
square, and from 2 to 3 feet in height. The vaults were not exactly in the same line 
but varied about 5°. Some of the stones had been removed and carried off. I saw 
only a few fragments of human bones, but was informed that other and very large 
bones had been found. The annexed sketch exhibits the form and relative position 

a Salt river flows into the Mississippi about four miles north of the town of Louisiana. 



74 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 37 



of the two vaults, with their dimensions in feet marked thereon. They appear to have 
been originally built with a step on the outer face, as shown at B. The outer portion 
of the wall lies partly tumbled as if pulled down. Other similar burial places have 
existed in the county, but at present their sites only remain, the stones having been 
used for building purposes. 

The sketch mentioned is reproduced here as figure 16. 

Evidently Professor Broadhead regarded the two vaults as con- 
stituting a single burial place. The open space to the left, marked 
"rocks removed/' is clearly a doorway. Reference to the various 
illustrations herein will show that in any of the vaults with brace 
rocks piled against the outside "the outer portion of the wall lies 
partly tumbled as if pulled down." 

He says further (p. 352): 

In Montgomery county, on the bluffs of Prairie Fork, near its mouth, in the south- 
east quarter of section 9, township 47, range 6 west, there are remains of a similar 
walled burial place to that on Salt river. Pike county. The walled space is ten feet 




Fig. 16. Broadhead's plan of two vaults in Fike county. 

square, and the walls were two feet high when I saw them in 1859. A few pieces of 
human bones were found. 

And again, on the same page, in regard to certain mounds in 

Johnson county: 

These I have not seen. They are located on the bluffs of Black water river, and are 
described as being very similar to those of Clay county, but of larger dimensions, 
with vaults built of stone, and having lids of the same kind of material, the whole 
covered over with earth so as to present the contour of large rounded mounds. Some 
pottery and flint implements have been obtained from them. 

The reference to "lids" is obscure. Possibly it means that flat 
stones were used to cover the vault after it was filled. 



Mounds in Vicinity of Warrensburg (15) 

No doubt the last-named mounds are those referred to by C. W. 
Stevenson 3 under the head of " New Mound Discoveries," in substance 
as follows: 

a In the Kansas City Review of Sciences and Industry, II, lot), 1878-9. 



powke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 75 

In the vicinity of Warrensburg [15]° are mounds, every one excavated showing a 
stone box within, forming a true cist. They are essentially the same, their dimen- 
sions being nine by eleven feet, and six feet deep. 

It is unfortunate that we have not a more detailed account of these 
mounds. 

THE "INDIAN HOUSE" IN PIKE COUNTY (16) 

Among the remains which have aroused great interest, but which 
have been instrumental in creating a false impression concerning 
the aborigines of the Mississippi valley, is a peculiar stonework in 
Pike county, near Louisiana. 

The earliest known reference to this structure is found in a work 
by Beck. b The illustration which he gives has been widely copied, and 
its complete lack of resemblance to anything ever constructed by a 
"Red Indian," or by his mythical predecessor, the "Mound Builder," 
has furnished a basis for all sorts of fanciful theories. The smooth- 
ness and regularity of the walls, the accurate alignment of the stones, 
as portrayed in his cut (reproduced here as fig. 17), might well excite 
the envy of a skilled stone mason of our own day. The statement 
in his text that " all the walls consist of rough unhewn stone" proves 
the inaccuracy of the drawing, in which they are shown as smooth 
and even as they could be made with modern tools and machinery. 
Nevertheless, writers imbued with the idea of a "lost race" or a 
"high civilization" overlook this inconsistency and take only the 
drawing as a text. 

Beck's description follows: 

Noyer creek, a trifling steam, runs an easterly course through Pike county and 
empties into the Mississippi two miles below the mouth of Salt river. It is princi- 
pally noted on account of the singular ancient works found on its banks about two 
miles southwest of the town of Louisiana. They are built of stone, with great regu- 
larity, and their site is high and commanding, from which I am led to infer that they 
were intended for places of defence. Works of a similar kind are found on the banks 
of Buffaloe creek and on the Osage river. They certainly form a class of antiquities 
entirely distinct from the walled towns, fortifications, barrows or mounds. The 
regularity of their form and structure favors the conclusion that they were the work 
of a more civilized race than those who erected the former — a race familiar with the 
rules of architecture, and perhaps with a perfect system of warfare. The annexed 
engraving [fig. 17] will illustrate the form of these works. 

Fig. 1, faces the southeast. 

ABCD outer wall, 18 inches in thickness; length 56 feet; breadth 22 feet. 

(All the walls consist of rough unhewn stone, and appear to have been constructed 
with remarkable regularity. Although they are at present considerably decayed, 
their form is still distinct.) 

E is a chamber, 3 feet in width, which was no doubt arched the whole way, as some 
part of the arch still remains. It is made in the manner represented in fig. 3, and is 
seldom more than five feet above the surface of the ground; but as it is filled with 
rubbish, it is impossible to say what was its original height. 

"■ The corresponding number on the map (pi. 1) designates this group of mounds. 
l> A Gazetteer of the States of Illinois and Missouri, by Lewis C. Beck; Albany, 1823. 



76 



BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 37 



F is a chamber, 4 feet, wide, and in some places the remains of a similar arch still 
exist. 

G is a chamber, 12 feet in width, at the extremity of which are the remains of a 
furnace. 

H is a large room, walled with two entrances, I and K. It is covered with a thick 
growth of trees. 

The walls are at present from two to five feet in height. 






F" m V^^^m£V^m 




XfffT 



i V » ,M||jh M | | I l i 



Fifi. 17. Giddings's sketch of the Louisiana work (from Beck's Gazetteer). 

One of the trees in the work is two feet in diameter. 

Fig. 2 is a smaller work, about 80 rods due east from the former. 

A and C are two chambers, without any apparent communication with B. 

13 is a room nearly circular, with one gate or entrance. 

The walls are similar to the former. 



fowkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 77 

For the account of these interesting antiquities, I am chiefly indebted to the Rev. 
S. Giddings, of St. Louis, who visited them a few years since and sketched a plan of 
which this is a copy. It should be remarked that in the passage G (fig. 1) several 
human bones have recently been found. 

The above work is on a ridge about half a mile long and 400 feet 
high, 2 miles in a direct line southwest of Louisiana; this is known 
as the McMoore hill, from a former owner. "Nye" creek, as it is 
called by residents (the "Noix" creek of Broadhead; "Noyer" of 
Beck), flows along the west side and north end; on the east is a deep 
ravine, on the south a low gap. Thus the hill is almost isolated. 
The slope is so steep as to be quite difficult of ascent at every point 
except the south end. There is no level ground on the summit, the 
slopes terminating in a sharp curve along the median line. The 
"walls" are on the south end of the ridge, probably 30 feet lower 
than the highest point, and west of the crest; the north end of the 
structure is fully 3 feet higher than the south end, making the natural 
direct slope between them from the northeast to the southwest 
corner. 

The whole place had been so thoroughly ransacked by relic hunters 
that no trace of a wall was visible at any point; but many stones, 
ranging in size from small angular fragments like gravel to slabs 
weighing 300 pounds, were scattered confusedly over a space 65 by 
42 feet. There was enough stone to make a mound probably 50 by 
25 feet, and 2 feet high. 

A trench was run around the outer margin at ample distance to 
include all the part on which it seemed possible the walls could have 
stood; this trench was continuous except where trees interfered 
with digging. Bed rock, which outcropped on the slopes a few feet 
below and on each side, was found within a foot or less of the surface 
of the debris, except at the north end where earth washing down the 
natural slope of the ridge had covered it a few inches deeper. 

From this trench excavations were made on every side toward the 
center, to ascertain whether any stones remained undisturbed; but 
none such were found except about the northeast corner. Here 
were two slabs, each as heavy as two men could handle. One was 
at the beginning of a row of flat stones extending 12 feet southward; 
the other at the beginning of a similar row reaching 15^ feet west- 
ward. These partial rows were all that remained as they were origi- 
nally placed, and formed the bottom of the wall around this corner. 
For the most part there was only a single layer; but for a few feet on 
the north side there were two, three, and in one place four, stones 
superposed, as seen in plate 14,6; these were all thin and small. Abrupt 
"steps" or offsets along the bed rock in the interior indicated that 
the aborigines had pried off all they could of the projecting outcrop, 
for the double purpose, probably, of making level spaces on the bottom 
and procuring material for the wall. 



78 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bdll. 37 

When all debris was removed so the ground could be inspected, 
the distance from the northeast corner, outside, to a point where it 
seemed the northwest corner should be was 22$ feet; to a similar 
point at the southeast corner, 48J feet. When the condition of the 
remains is considered, these figures do not differ greatly from those 
given by Beck. Measuring outwardly at right angles from the point 
at which the two walls met- (at the ends of the pick and shovel, 
pi. 14, b), the width of the east wall was 6 feet; of the north wall, 4 
feet. 

In plate 14, & are shown the outside of the north wall and the top 
of the east wall, looking south from the outside. 

It is apparent that the bottom layer, whatever its breadth, rested 
on the surface of the ground, and that the wall was not laid up either 
vertically or longitudinally in a manner more symmetrical or accurate 
than is possible with rough slabs having a wide variation in shapes and 
sizes. Moreover, it is said in the text that the walls were partially 
demolished before the sketch was made. In view of these facts, it 
would seem clear that Mr. Giddings saw only a portion of the struc- 
ture and that his drawing as given by Beck is largely conjectural. 
Instead of separate stones being shown as they would actually 
appear in form and dimensions, Beck's figure is its own witness that 
spaces to represent each rock are marked off along nearly parallel 
lines. Furthermore, the walls are represented as standing upright 
instead of being flat on the ground; limestone slabs of irregular 
shapes, even if set up edgewise, could not have such symmetrical, 
brick-like outlines. Indeed, it is quite likely that the original sketch, 
made on the spot, was rather crude, its present finished appearance 
being such as would accord with the ideas of a draftsman who drew 
the stones after the conventional manner of text-books. 

Col. Richard Hawkins, of Louisiana, says he first saw this work 
in 1867, and that the "wall" was then 2 feet high in some places. 
On the other hand, Mr. Homer Reed, whose father formerly owned 
the land, says he has a distinct recollection of it since 1868, and that 
it was not then essentially different from what it is now — a pile of 
rocks without any regularity, and certainly without resemblance to 
a wall at any point. He was present on more than one occasion 
when his father was excavating in the cairn which, first and last, he 
did pretty thoroughly, finding some eight or ten skeletons rather 
close together, but each in its own "grave." These were lying on 
the surface (a dug grave would be impossible in this rock), covered 
or protected by rocks set along the sides of each body and inclined 
inward at the top. Probably this position of the protecting rocks 
gave rise to the idea of an "arch." It will be observed that Beck 
says there were only remains of an arch. His sketch, "D, 3," how- 
ever, shows a grave that is built up remarkably like a so-called "fur- 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 14 




a SOUTH WALL, DOORWAY, AND PASSAGE IN BRENNER MOUND NO. 2 




b LOOKING ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE LOUISIANA WORK 

FEATURES OF BRENNER MOUND NO. 2 AND OF THE LOUISIANA WORK 



fowkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOUBI 79 

nace" in Allamakee county, Iowa, made of rough sandstone slabs 
gradually drawn together until one stone reaches both sides at the 
top. a 

The only relics found in this cairn, so far as Mr. Reed can remember, 
were some small shell beads (columellas) . 

The "wall no. 2" of Beck's drawing is fully half a mile in a direct 
line east of this work; it also is on a hilltop. As there are two stone 
mounds here, only a few yards apart, within plain view of each other, 
it is singular that only one should be mentioned. It may be that 
the second had not been opened at the time; it certainly could not be 
overlooked. The senior Mr. Reed examined these mounds also; judging 
from their present appearance, they were only cairns, perhaps with a 
cist grave inside. The interior has been cleared out and the stones 
have been thrown toward the margin all around. There is no sign of a 
wall, and Mr. Reed says there never was one; neither is there any 
indication that either rock pile was ever in the square form shown. 
At present, the outline of the base in each is an irregular circle, all the 
central stones having been removed, down to the natural surface. 
A well-made clay pipe was found in one of these. 

Small cairns stand on many of the hills along the river and on 
"Nye" creek. From the descriptions of those opened they contain 
cists, or small bowl-shaped graves, in which are skeletons covered with 
flat rocks. 

It is reported that near Busch station, north of Louisiana, on a ridge 
between Salt river and the Mississippi, there were at one time walled 
graves, the walls being partially sunk in the earth, but that all are 
now destroyed. The expression "sunk in the earth" probably means 
earth was piled over or against them but not to such extent as to 
make a noticeable mound. Probably these graves are the same as 
those described by Broadhead (see page 73). 

Beck's Gazetteer (p. 234) contains other references to "Indian 
Houses." Under Gasconade county is found the following: 

* * * a stone work exists, as I am informed by General Ashley, about 10 miles 
below the mills [referring to some "sawmills" whose location is not given]. It is 
on the west side of the Gasconade, and is about 25 or 30 feet square, and, although at 
present in a dilapidated condition, appears to have been originally built with an 
uncommon degree of regularity. It is situated on a high bald cliff, which commands 
a fine and extensive view of the country on all sides. From this stone work is a small 
footpath running in a devious course down the cliff to the entrance to a cave, in which 
was found a quantity of ashes. 

Under Pike county (p. 243) is the statement — 

In this county are several singular and interesting ancient works, which are similar 
in some respects to those on the Gasconade. They are situated on Noyer creek, and 
will be described under that article. 

o For description see Twelfth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 106, 1890-91, Washington, 1894. 
In the same report (p. 107), is a figure of a circular vault near the "furnace," similarly laid up. 



80 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

But Beck makes no mention of any on "Noyer creek" other than 
the one near Louisiana. 

Again, on page 263 : 

[On] Buffaloe creek, a small stream of Pike county, * * * there are also the 
ruins of a number of ancient forts, similar to those on the Noyer creek and Osage river. 

On page 289 : 

Loutre river, a stream of Montgomery county, * * *.. On the headwaters of this 
stream are said to be ancient works, similar to those on the Mississippi, for a description 
of which the reader is referred to Noyer creek. 

It would seem from the text that Beck's knowledge of these remains 
was derived entirely from reports made to him. Possibly, too, he 
confused "houses" and "cairns." 

One of these "houses" is on a bluff overlooking the Osage, a mile 
from the "Painted Rock," 16 miles nearly south of Jefferson City. 
A space approximately square and some 12 feet in diameter is sur- 
rounded by a heavy stone wall about 3 feet high. A similar smaller 
in closure stands against one side of this "house," or perhaps all con- 
stitute one structure of irregular form. As no excavation was 
allowed, its nature is uncertain, but it seems to be a vault, not covered 
with earth as is customary. 

If the reader will turn back to various illustrations herein, showing 
both the inside and the outside of vault-graves and will then consult 
anew Broadhead's drawings of the Pike county and Platte county 
mounds, in which are represented the outside regularly laid up in hypo- 
thetical steps (figs. 14, 15, 16), and will finally compare these with the 
sketch by Mr. Giddings (fig. 17), he will probably infer that the 
"Indian House" of Pike county, as well as all the others mentioned, 
are simply walled graves built in conjunction, and not covered over. 
The fact that chamber E was "filled with rubbish," that "in G * * * 
human bones have recently been found," and the discoveries made 
by Mr. Reed in his excavations, are all in consonance with the view 
that such is their purpose. 

The explicit statements of Mr. Giddings and Colonel Hawkins that 
they saw the walls can not be set aside. Walls of some sort, though 
not as pictured, certainly existed. There is evidence in the illustra- 
tion in plate 14, h, of a vertical outside face at the northeast corner. 
The bottom rocks here were never disturbed by relic hunters, conse- 
quently had brace rocks been piled against the outside they would 
still be in place; but there are none. Again, there is not now, and 
probably never was, enough earth on the upper part of McMoore's 
hill to build a mound completely over this structure. 

Only one explanation offers itself. 

The aborigines made burial chambers in a series, whether all at 
one time or during a long period does not appear. These were rock- 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 81 

walled enclosures constructed on the same general plan as those de- 
scribed on preceding pages. But as both earth and stones were diffi- 
cult to procure, a mound was not practicable, nor could the walls be 
braced in the usual manner. So another wall, facing outward, was 
built around the grave vaults, the two probably leaning slightly to- 
ward each other, thus affording mutual support. Slight evidence of 
such construction is offered in the condition of the east wall, where the 
large stone at the corner is entirely outside the line of stones extending 
toward the south. 

PAINTED ROCK (17) 

Among the numerous paintings on rocks and cliffs in the Missouri 
valley is one on the right bank of Osage river, 25 miles above its 
mouth and 16 miles south of Jefferson City. 

The figures, evidently made with ocher or powdered hematite, are 
now faint. On a rock face high above flood are a so-called "buffalo," 
a design resembling a man with upraised arms, and several others 
too nearly obliterated to venture a guess as to their meaning. Lower, 
where the river occasionally covers them, are a zigzag line, probably 
intended for a serpent, and two or three "turkey tracks;" the latter 
may indicate diverging trails in the vicinity. 

The paint has penetrated the soft limestone to a slight depth, 
a fact which accounts for the preservation of the figures. The sur- 
face of stone of this character gradually weathers off, the rate of 
erosion depending on the degree of exposure to atmospheric influ- 
ences; so in time the figures will entirely disappear. It is quite 
unlikely they are of considerable antiquity; even in dry caves the 
roof and walls slowly disintegrate, and the process is naturally much 
more rapid with rocks in the open air. 

The late Attorney-General H. Clay Ewing, of Jefferson City, gives 
the following tradition as to the origin of the figures:" 

* * * Painted Rock is at the upper end of the bluff and gets its name from 
various rude drawings representing animals, such as buffalo and deer. These paint- 
ings are composed of some red substance, which can be plainly seen from the river. 
The figure most distinct seems to have been intended for a buffalo; it is about fifteen 
inches long and eight or nine inches high. * * * There is a rather interesting 
legend concerning this rock. 

He then proceeds to describe the capture by Indians of Marie 
Roy, daughter of Joseph Roy, one of the principal men of the village 
of Cote Sans Dessein, and of the nine-year-old son of Widow Moreau, 
and of their rescue. Four men set out in pursuit of the Indians — 
Joseph Roy, Jean Moreau, and two unnamed companions. Roy and 
one man went up the Osage ; Moreau and the other man up the creek 

a In an article in the American Field of April 14, 1882. 
5780— Bull. 37—10 6 



82 BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

which now bears the former's name. Moreau and his companion 
were probably waylaid, as it is said "they never returned, and his 
name was given to the river." 

Roy and his companion hid their canoe, went across the country 
on foot, and thus got above the Indians and their captives, who 
were in canoes. Taken by surprise, the Indians ran away, and the 
whites started back. 

* * * When they passed the rock where the figures I have described appeared, 
Marie told her father that they had stopped there for a few hours as they went up, 
and the head man or chief in charge of the party had "painted the rock," and from 
that day to this it is called the Painted Rock. 

OLD FORT AND VILLAGE SITE IN SALINE COUNTY (18) 

The area lying along the bluffs overlooking the Missouri river 
from two to six miles southwest of Miami, in Saline county, is a 
succession of knolls, ridges, and peaks, having steep slopes on every 
side except where cols connect them with one another or with the 
plateau farther back from the stream. The summits are of moderate 
elevation, nowhere more than 200 feet above the level of the overflow 
bottom land; most of them are less than 150 feet. In some cases 
rock outcrops near the bottom of the bluffs, but none is found at a 
greater elevation than 75 to 100 feet, all above this being loess. 
Near the river the natural wear of the land is reinforced by the 
action of numerous springs which flow out over the limestone, and 
work precipitous ravines into the bluffs, the combined surface and 
subterranean erosion producing the rugged features to which this 
region owes its rather fanciful name of "The Pinnacles." 

Aboriginal burial mounds stand on various points along the bluffs, 
though not in so great numbers as farther up or down the Missouri; 
the largest, so far as can be remembered by residents, was not more 
than 6 feet high. Nearly all of the mounds have been dug into more 
or less; but it seems very little has been discovered in them. 

Old Fort 

On a ridge running nearly south from the general level of the table- 
land, on the farm of Mr. George P. Haynie, of Miami, is an earthen 
inclosure popularly known as the "Old Fort." Its exact location is 
on E. I SW. \ SE. \ sec. 24, T. 52 N, R. 22 W. 

The north and south ends are on the summit of the ridge, while 
the east and west sides are carried along on the slopes at various 
distances below, curving and winding along the hillsides to conform 
as nearly as may be with the various inequalities produced by 
natural erosion. 



FOWKB] 



ANTIQUITIES OP MISSOURI 



83 



A better understanding of the work may be had from the map 
(fig. 18) than from verbal description; the solid black lines represent 
embankments, the shaded lines ditches. The work is plainly defen- 
sive in nature. Except at the ends, approach is possible only by 
climbing the slopes; the latter, however, are not so steep as to 
present peculiar difficulty. The most accessible and vulnerable 
part is at the northern extremity; here the overlapping ends of the 
wall compel a detour in entering. At the opposite end, where there 
is a considerable level 
area outside the 
walls, protection is in- 
sured, or augmented, 
by a complicated ar- • 
rangement of minor 
embankments and 
trenches . But the 
sides of these could 
not be made so steep, 
nor of sufficient height 
or depth, with the 
amount of earth avail- 
able, as to balk a de- 
termined enemy. 

Residents in the 
vicinity who were fa- 
miliar with the work 
before it was dis- 
turbed, state there 
was an interior ditch 
all around except at 
the entrances. Pro- 
fessor B r o a d h e a d , 
who also saw it in 
primitive forest, gives 
the following descrip- 
tion : ° 




Fig. 18. The "Old Fort" in Saline county. 



In Saline county, Missouri, four miles southwest of Miami, I visited, in 1872, an 
interesting locality showing ancient earthworks, walls, and ditches on high ground 
in a dense wood. The outline was somewhat of a circular shape, though quite irregu- 
lar, caused by ravines breaking off near the outer rim, the walls being re-entrant in 
such places. The inclosed space is about 40 acres, around which there partly extended 
three ridges and two valleys, or rather depressions, where at one time existed deep 
ditches. We have first a ridge 8 feet wide and 3 feet high, then a ditch 6 feet wide 
and 3 feet deep, then a ridge 8 feet wide and 3 feet high, then a ditch 10 feet wide 



i Smithsonian Report for 1879, 350, Washington, 1880. 



84 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

and 3 feet deep, and lastly a ridge 10 feet wide and 1J feet high. The ridges were 
apparently entirely formed of earth dug from the ditches, and two of them extended 
entirely around the space. No rocks appeared near by or in the enclosure. Black- 
oak trees 3 to 5 feet in diameter were growing over the walls, ditches, and inner area, 
and the whole surface was covered with a dense and luxuriant growth of bushes, 
vines, and trees. The ridges had certainly been at one time much higher, and the 
ditches much deeper. 

The meaning of the last sentence is, probably, that they must 
have been "higher" and "deeper" in order to be effective. As will 
appear later, when Professor Broadhead saw them they were in a con- 
dition not very different from that in which the builders left them, 
being protected by the forest growth which he mentions. 

The following are extracts from the report of Judge West in 
regard to Missouri archeology. Kef erring to this earthwork, he says :° 

On this spur, about a quarter of a mile back from its terminus on the river valley, 
stands a wonderful work, known as the "Old Fort." It consists of intrenchments 
thrown up on the verge of the summit of the ridge on both sides. The intrench- 
ments are still from two to three feet deep, and are on either side one thousand one 
hundred feet in length measuring through the center from end to end, and inclose 
an area of from two hundred to three hundred feet wide, the trenches following the 
curvature of the summit of the ridge. At the sides there is but a single trench, but 
at each end there is a double defense closing the trenches except leaving a pass-way 
about fifteen feet wide. Near the center of the work a single trench is thrown up 
connecting with the main trench on either side, with a pass-way in the center of 
the same width as those at the ends. There are four small mounds in the works, 
which were opened last summer by Mr. Middleton, of Kansas City. Two of the 
mounds stand at the north entrance and to the right of the pass-way as you approach 
from the north, and two of them are near the center cross intrenchments to the 
left of the pass- way as you approach from the same direction. Mr. Middleton 
found human bones, broken pottery, and flint chippings in the mounds. The 
bones were very much decayed. The pottery is precisely the same as that found in 
the fields in the vicinity. The trees growing in the intrenchments are of the same 
age as those in the adjacent forests. * * * 

I dug into two of these mounds, in the field of Mr. Casebolt — they extend over 
four or five large farms — and for a depth of five feet I found successive layers of 
wood ashes and clay filled with broken pottery, flint chippings, bones, and shells. 
The bones were those of birds and animals. But Mr. Casebolt, on the same farm, 
had a cellar dug under a part of his house after it was built, and in digging, at a depth 
of about three feet, two human skeletons were found side by side, buried extended 
in a horizontal position at full length. The bones were said to be very much decayed, 
and crumbled upon exposure to the atmosphere. 

These mounds are possibly among the group on the adjacent farm, 
to the northwest of the "Fort," though it is more probable they 
were two of the smaller elevations at the village site to be described 
later. If the latter, Judge West happened to strike one of the shal- 
lower pits and followed it to the bottom. 

Some time after these visits the timber and brush on the hilltop 
and for a few yards outside the structure on the slopes were cleared 



oln the Kansas City Review of Science, 530, Jan., 1882. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 85 

away and the ground was put under cultivation. As a result, the 
ditch is more or less filled in its entire circuit and wholly obliterated 
for some distance along the southeastern side. At several places 
outside the main wad there is still visible a partially filled ditch; 
and even where no trace of a depression appears the outer slope of 
the wall rises from a space artificially leveled in such manner that 
it resembles an old roadway; in fact, the resemblance is so striking 
that may persons suppose this to have been its purpose. It is thus 
proved that the wall was built with earth taken up on both sides, 
leaving a continuous ditch within and a ditch or level strip without, 
as shown in the various sections in figure 18. 

The entire length of the principal wall, not including offsets or 
minor elevations, is about 2,700 feet; its extremely tortuous course 
may be inferred from the fact that in this distance it was necessary 
to set the compass at just forty stations in order to ascertain the 
changes of direction. The area included is slightly more than 6 
acres. 

The rank growth covering the entire work rendered it necessary to 
clear off with knife, scythe, and ax every foot examined. Conse- 
quently no work other than a survey was attempted, except to 
cut two trenches across the wall and extend them to the natural 
earth on both sides. These crosscuts, which were made not far 
from the north entrance, one on the east, the other on the west, 
where the wall was least altered from its original condition, showed 
the fill from wash and natural accumulation to be only a foot deep in 
the outer ditch or level area, and about 18 inches in the inner ditch; 
and some of this was due to plowing. The wall, where so cut across, 
has now an elevation of about 3 feet. It is not probable there was 
ever a vertical distance of more than 6 feet, if as much, between the 
bottom of the ditch and the top of the wall; the earth in the embank- 
ment, reenforced by that in both trenches, could not be made to 
stand at a greater height. Most careful watch was kept for traces 
of pickets or palisades; there was not the slightest evidence of them. 
From top to bottom, the earth in the wall was uniform in color and 
consistency, as it was in the bottom of the ditches. There was no 
cavity, no dark line, such as must have resulted from the decay of 
timber large enough to have been of service. If there was ever an 
additional method of protection, it involved the use of materials 
placed on the walls, and not extending beneath their surface. At 
both points where cut through, the earth was the tough, reddish- 
brown, clayey loess similar to that covering the hills around, and 
required constant use of a pick in its removal. Had there been 
even a small post set in this soil the marks would have remained 
indefinitely. 



86 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

The cross "trench" mentioned by Judge West — who, by a slip of 
the pen, uses the word "trench" on several occasions when he means 
"embankments" — can be traced only so far as is shown on the map 
by the short projection from the eastern wall. There is an opening 
at the southwest end through which a farm road passes; it can not be 
ascertained whether this is the "pass- way" to which Judge West 
refers, or a modern road. There is another opening farther toward 
the east, as shown on the map, which may be the one he mentions; 
but it is not referred to specifically in either account from which 
these quotations are made. 

At the south end two short minor walls appear within the main 
wall; there is also an exterior ditch beginning at the top of the 
steep slope, about 50 feet from the main outer ditch, and connecting 
with it at what is perhaps the "pass-way" of Judge West's de- 
scription. One of the short interior walls joins the ditch inside the 
main wall. 

These are all the features of the "Fort" which can now be traced; 
more might be discovered were it completely cleared off. The 
process of cultivation has destroyed much, and has defaced nearly 
all that is left. 

It is reported that in the mounds at the north end, which have 
been repeatedly dug into, many skeletons were exhumed from a 
depth of 18 to 20 inches beneath the surface/ "piled in on one another 
as if all thrown in at one time." At the south end skeletons were 
also found in the space between the ditches outside the wall and still 
others inside the "Fort" near the west side. A skull from the latter 
place "had a gold plug in one tooth." 

The "Fort" much resembles some of those farther east, especially 
along the lower lakes, which are known to be of comparatively recent 
origin. There is nothing "remarkable" or "wonderful" about it, 
nothing to indicate any greater "ability" than the capacity to trace 
a fairly level line around a hilltop and pile earth along it. 

It has been surmised this may be the fort erected by the Miami 
Indians; but theirs was a small affair, inclosing not more than "a 
fourth of an acre," and surrounded by logs, "in an elevated prairie 
bottom," in the upper end of Saline county, "four or five miles 
below the town of Miami." 

On a ridge or knoll a fourth of a mile northwest of the "Fort" 
are several burial mounds. Nothing more definite could be learned 
in regard to them than is contained in the extracts from Judge West's 

paper. 

Village Site at "The Pinnacles" 

From half a mile to a mile eastward from the "Fort" erosion has 
cut numerous ravines in various directions in the plateau, leaving 
the higher portions somewhat in the form of a letter T, the top of 



powke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 87 

the T extending in a general easterly course and the stem southward 
for several hundred yards. Most of the land belongs to Mr. E. S. 
Casebolt; the southern part belongs to Mr. W. H. Utz. 

Over all this area are abundant indications of an aboriginal village 
site. The ground is strewn for acres with potsherds, broken bones, 
and especially with the refuse resulting from the manufacture of flint 
implements. A great amount of good museum material, including 
nearly every class of objects usually found under such circumstances, 
has come from here. 

The same conditions, but confined to a much smaller area, are 
reported to prevail on the eastern part of Mr. Utz's farm, on a 
segregated knoll. This was in a blue-grass meadow, where nothing 
on the ground could be seen at the time of the writer's visit. 

With reference to this village site, Judge West says : a 

* * * From a half to three-quarters of a mile from the earthworks [the "Old 
Fort"] and on a line parallel with the west side, there begins an area of country 
extending to near the terrace before mentioned [the Petite Osage plains], a distance of 
about two miles and which is about the same width the other way. This entire area 
is literally covered over with low mounds, containing wood ashes, stone implements, 
pottery, mussel-shells and animal and human bones. Indeed the whole ground 
seems to be filled in this way. 

[Page 533.] This district may very aptly be termed a city in ruins. The ground 
for a depth of from three to five feet, or more, is filled with the bones and domestic 
implements of a departed race, and for miles around their broken implements lie 
scattered everywhere. They were undoubtedly a people who had a fixed and per- 
manent abode, and an agricultural people, to a limited extent at least, for some of 
their stone implements must have been made for the cultivation of the soil. They 
must have used their pottery vessels for cooking their food, and the low mounds 
represent their kitchens, in which wagon loads of broken vessels might be gathered 
up — broken at the domestic hearth. 

The "two miles in extent either way," which Judge West con- 
siders the area of former occupation, would carry the limits of the 
village site far beyond the points where any indications of it exist. 
The "low mounds," the only real evidence of an aboriginal town 
("city in ruins" is hardly applicable), do not exist in this neighbor- 
hood outside of the limits of the two farms mentioned. Further- 
more, it is not to be inferred that the debris on the main village site 
is equally distributed over the entire space; it occurs in separate 
deposits. In spots ranging from 20 to 50 yards apart the ground is 
literally covered and filled to a level" below plow depth ; but in going 
from one of these spots to another, the debris becomes less abundant, 
in places almost disappearing midway between the deposits which 
are farthest apart. The deposits are in one or two rows, according 
to the width of the ridge. Locally these are called "mounds," hav- 
ing been somewhat elevated at one time, though most of them are 
now leveled by cultivation. Some of the deposits, in pasture lands, 

a In the Kansas City Review of Science, 531, Jan., 1882. 



88 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bdll.'37 

are still 16 to 18 inches high. A rough estimate by the owners of the 
land puts the entire number of deposits at "about forty," which is 
probably not far from correct. 

In making excavations for cellars, post holes, and other purposes, 
skeletons have been exhumed at various points on this ridge; and 
on one slope where much soil has been washed off, numerous graves 
have been discovered in plowing. These graves seem to extend in 
rows, the bottom 1 foot to 3 feet below the present surface; there is 
no recollection that they have ever yielded any artificial objects. 

It is evident that a dwelling place of some kind was located on each 
of these so-called mounds, which were erected to secure a well- 
drained residence site. The refuse around them is the natural result 
of aboriginal methods of disposing of waste and trash by throwing it 
just outside their dwellings; in fact the "mounds" were partially 
built up in this manner. 

• For various reasons only a very limited amount of excavation was 
possible at the time of the writer's investigations. A spot where it 
was said a mound had once stood was chosen, on top of the ridge on 
Mr. Casebolt's farm. The "mound" was indicated more by the 
quantity of flint chips than by its altitude; and while the debris was 
less abundant here than at some other points, the discovery of a por- 
tion of a human femur, evidently plowed out, determined the place of 
excavation. 

Three narrow parallel trenches were started toward the "mound" 
center from the east margin of the scattered material. These, being 
only exploratory, were about 2 feet wide and extended to the subsoil, 
which lay at a depth of 18 inches. In all the trenches, mingled with 
the earth, was refuse of the same character as that on the surface, but 
much more pottery and bones, these being better preserved where 
protected. The pottery was of two varieties. Most of it was thick, 
strong, quite dark or even black, as if made from "gumbo" earth, 
decorated with dots and smooth indented straight and curved lines 
at various angles; but a few pieces were yellowish, smoothly finished, 
undecorated, apparently made of sand and clay. The heavier 
vessels had handles. 

Buffalo bones, almost entirely scapulae, were abundant; there were 
also many bones and teeth of deer, wolf or dog, bear, several smaller 
animals, numerous kinds of birds, especially wild turkey, and of fish, 
some of the last named of large size. A singular feature was the com- 
plete absence of flint implements ; not a knife, spear, or large scraper 
was found, and only one very small arrowhead. Even fragments of 
such specimens were rare, but the small thumb scrapers made by 
chipping the end of a thick flake were found occasionally, perhaps a 
dozen in all. 



fowkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 89 

Near the center of the space where surface signs were most abun- 
dant, about 18 inches deep, were pieces of a large pot, bones of a 
young deer in small fragments, and a pile of ashes. It looked as if a 
pot while in use had broken on or over a fire bed, and the whole mass 
had been raked up and thrown out together. 

Among other things found was a small thin piece of catlinite, 
highly polished, apparently a fragment of a disk pipe. 

Distant 15 feet from the center, the most northerly of the three 
trenches entered a pit 4 feet in diameter and 2\ feet deep. This was 
evidently a refuse or trash receptacle, as it was filled with ashes and 
earth, among which were fragments of bone and pottery, flint chips, 
and unfinished or broken implements of flint and other stone. In this 
debris was one human femur. 

In the second, or middle, trench was a pit of the same character as 
that in the first, but much larger, and the deepest, probably, ever 
discovered. It was about 6 feet by 4 \ feet in diameter at the top, 
and, as first dug, 4 feet in diameter at the bottom, with a depth of 7 \ 
feet. Toward the bottom, on the south side, were narrow steps like 
a steep stairway, in the solid earth, to enable the diggers to carry out 
the dirt. Afterward, a hole 3 feet in diameter was sunk 3 feet 
deeper on the east side, making the entire depth 10 \ feet. The pit 
was filled with earth and ashes, among which were as many frag- 
ments of bones, pottery, stones, and flint chips, as would fill a half- 
peck measure. Extending from the west edge of the pit, a few 
inches under the sod on a pile of ashes, were the solid leg and feet 
bones of an adult. As no other bones were present, it would seem 
the burial antedated the pit, and the missing parts were thrown aside 
in the digging. 

In the line of the southern, or third, trench were two pits. The 
one first reached was 5 feet deep. From the north and west sides 
this was cleared out over an area 7 by 10 feet toward the east and 
south without reaching the margins in these directions. Near the 
top were the leg and feet bones of an adult, placed one above the 
other as if a body had been laid in on the right side, with the head 
toward the northwest. Below these were the corresponding bones 
of another adult, laid parallel as if belonging to a body placed on 
the back. In neither instance were there any traces of other bones 
belonging with them. 

The second pit in the third trench was several feet west of the 
first ; this was 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet in depth. The only human 
bone in it was the skull of a child of 5 or 6 years. Both jaws were 
missing and the skull lay with the vertex downward. 

Between these two pits were the pelvis, leg bones, and feet of a 
person about the size of a normal 16-year-old boy. 



90 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bum.. 37 



At a distance of 3 feet northwest of the child's skull, on the same 
level (about 18 inches in depth), but not within the pit, was a fine 
pot, nearly perfect, standing upright in a bed of ashes (fig. 19). West 
of this was a scraper or polishing tool 15 inches long, made from the 
split rib of a buffalo or an elk. 

Another trench was run from the center toward the south. Ei°-ht 
feet out, m a slight depression dug into the subsoil, was the cranium 
of a child, as smooth as if polished or at least much handled. It lay- 
on the face, unaccompanied by any other bone. 

Three feet farther from the center was the edge of a pit 5 feet in 
depth and 6 feet in diameter. At one point on the bottom was a 
pile of minute flint chips scaled off in making implements of small 
size or delicate finish; there were enough of these to fill a pint cup. 

A slightly smaller 
quantity of similar 
chips lay higher up. 
A satisfactory ex- 
planation of these 
pits remains to be 
found. Such ex- 
cavations occur 
around and in 
many Indian vil- 
lage sites, modern 
as well as prehis- 
toric. They seem 
to fall into two 
classes: Store- 
houses in which to 
preserve grain and 
other food, and re- 
fuse pits to receive 
the trash accumulating under ordinary living and working condi- 
tions. Very likely pits of the former class, when their usefulness 
as storage chambers was over, were utilized for the latter purpose. 
Neither object seems to have been altogether in view at "The Pin- 
nacles." All the pits here contain much more earth than ashes, and 
while some of this may have fallen in from the top or sides, not a great 
quantity could have come from this source, or the pits would be 
somewhat conical. As it is, the sides are vertical or nearly so. Be- 
sides, they contain comparatively little of ordinary wastage. Some 
broken implements of stone or bone, potsherds, flint chips, and a small 
amount of charcoal were found in them, enough to show they were 
not designed for any especial purpose other than to receive ashes; 
and even so, the amount of earth evidently thrown back into them 
indicates some use not yet made plain. 




Fig. 19. Pot from village site, Saline county. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OP MISSOURI 91 

The area excavated measures less than 30 feet in diameter in any 
direction and not half the earth in this limited space was examined. 
Neither was this the most promising site; in other places on the ridge 
many more specimens have been gathered up than in this field and 
more graves uncovered, and the surface is more thickly strewn with 
potsherds, bones, and flints. 

The pottery was abundant, of good quality, and entirely different 
in form and decoration from any other ware found in explorations 
along the river. Nearly all the impressions are such as would be 
made with small rounded or pointed bones. 

No agricultural implements of bone, shell, or stone were found, 
except one fragment which seems to be the end of a small flint hoe, 
but shows no polish. There was one piece of coarse sandstone, used 
for sharpening bone implements. 

The only vegetable food discovered was a handful of charred 
acorns in one of the pits. 

All indications point to continuous occupancy by a tribe whose 
subsistence was derived from hunting and fishing. The numerous 
scapulae of buffalo bear no marks to show that they were used for 
digging; some scrapers, skinners, and polishers were made from 
pieces of these bones, and other implements made of bones of smaller 
mammals and of birds were found. The entire absence of cutting or 
piercing implements of flint from an area where bushels of flakes and 
chips can be gathered from the surface in a day, and where the ground 
is filled with them to the subsoil, is a most perplexing feature. Boys 
and collectors have gathered all finished and imperfect implements 
to a depth where the plow can turn them up ; but flakes continue in 
quantity to a greater depth than the plow has ever reached, and it 
would seem that many rejects, at least, should be in the pits. 

There is no evidence as yet, except Judge West's statement regard- 
ing the similarity of pottery, to connect the builders of the "Fort" 
with the dwellers on the village site. The former was seemingly 
occupied for only a short time or at irregular intervals, for although 
much desultory digging has been carried on at different places within 
the "Fort," no one in the neighborhood could recall the discovery 
of pottery, flint chips, or any other remains existing so profusely 
around the little "mounds." 

The very limited amount of investigation so far made here does not 
justify any theory, argument, or conclusion, but the site is well 
worthy of most thorough research. The following item may have 
some bearing on the question of the time at which it was occupied. 

In an article by John P. Jones, of Keytesville, Mo., on "Incidents 
of Early Travel in Missouri," this statement appears:" 

La Harpe's Journal has the following account of a voyage to the Missouris and Osages: 
"Dec. 29th, 1719, M. de Bienville received a letter from M. Dutisme, of the Kaskaskias, 

a In the Kansas City Review of Science, p. 20, May, 1881. 



92 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

dated Nov. 22nd, 1719, containing a narrative of his voyage to the village of the Mis- 
Bouris by the river of that name. One league from this village, in the southwest, is a 
village of the Osages * * * ." 

Jones adds in a footnote: 

This town was located near the present town of Miami, Saline Co., Mo. A descrip- 
tion o of an ancient earthwork near the site of this village appeared in the Review for 
April, 1878. 

But if the Osage occupied this spot, manufactured the pottery 
found here, and utilized bones, especially those of the buffalo, to so 
great an extent in making implements, then the grave-vaults certainly 
are not to be attributed to them; for the art objects found in these are 
so widely different in shape, finish, and material as to offer almost 
positive proof that they must represent the industry of a people 
belonging on another plane of culture and governed by very different 
motives and ideas. 

Probably Dutisme referred to the Osage village near Grand Pass 
or to some other whose location is not recorded. His "one league" 
may have denoted a distance quite indefinite. 

ARROW ROCK (19) 

In Saline county, Missouri, on the Missouri river, between Boonville 
and Glasgow, is the town of Arrow Rock, which takes its name from 
the cliff against whose foot the river flows. An impression exists 
among archeologists that the name was given because here was the 
site of an aboriginal flint quarry or workshop. In a footnote to his 
edition of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (vol. i, p. 18) Coues makes 
the statement, without citing authority or giving his reasons for it, 
that "the rock was so called from being resorted to by Indians for 
stone arrow-heads." The impression as to the origin of the name, 
however, much antedates the appearance of this publication. In 
Thwaites's edition of Lewis and Clark (vol. I, p. 44) the exact wording 
as it appears in their manuscript is thus : " * * * Several Small 
Channels running out of the River below a Bluff [Cliff of rocks called 
the arrow rock] * * * ", the bracketed remark being intercalated, 
whether by the original authors or by some one else does not appear. 
If there had been any foundation for the prevalent belief, these early 
explorers would surely have referred to it, for they record that — 

a Short distance above the mouth of this Creek [i. e., Big Moniteau, on the south side, 
between Boonville and Jefferson City], is Several Courious paintings and carving on the 
projecting rock of Limestone inlade with white red & blue flint, of a verry good quallity, 
the Indians have taken of this flint great quantities. 

There is no trace of aboriginal quarrying in the vicinity of Arrow 
Rock, nor any place where it would have been practicable. The 

o See excerpt from Broadhead, p. 83. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 93 

lower Carboniferous formation of Missouri contains a vast quantity 
of chert, and where this has weathered out of the parent rock without 
being disintegrated in the process the aborigines naturally gathered 
such of it as they could use. The limestone of Arrow Rock being 
comparatively soft and easily weathered, workable nodules are not 
rare along the shore, some of them containing solid cores capable of 
being formed into implements several inches in length. Evidence 
that some work was clone here may be found in a little terrace near 
the upper end of the bluff, where a few square rods of surface are 
strewn with chips. But greater quantities of chips extending over 
larger areas, are common in places considerable distances from any 
available flint in place. 

No one now living at Arrow Rock ever heard of the origin of the 
name as stated by Coues and by others before him, though who 
these are can not now be recalled. Only one tradition exists to 
account for it. A number of young warriors assembled on a sand bar 
opposite the cliff to test their power with the bow by ascertaining who 
could send an arrow farthest out into the stream, the victor to wed 
the chief's daughter. One of them shot clear across the river, his 
arrow lodging in a crevice high above the water; and so the cliff was 
thenceforward known as "The arrow rock." No citizen of the place 
has ever heard of any other explanation of the term. 

A RECONNOISSANCE IN SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI 

In 1879 and 1880 the people in the neighborhood of Charleston [Missouri] discovered 
that the pottery in which the mounds of this region seem to have been unusually rich 
had a considerable commercial value. A regular mining fever at once broke out and 
spread so rapidly that in some instances as many as twenty-five or thirty men, women, 
and children could be seen digging for pottery in one field at the same time." 

This paragraph gives voice to a widespread impression which 
exists, that in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas all, 
or nearly all, mounds contain potteiy, often in so great quantities 
that he must be indeed an enthusiastic collector who would not 
presently terminate his explorations through sheer satiety. 

Acting on this supposition, researches were undertaken by the 
writer, in southeastern Missouri, in the hope and with the expectation 
of securing a large or at least a typical collection. Only a short time 
was required to expose the error of this belief. 

Nearly every point recommended as worth investigating in 
Stoddard, Scott, Mississippi, and New Madrid counties was visited. 
Collectors, farmers, and other persons who were presumed to have 
knowledge of or interest in such matters were interviewed, and their 
advice and assistance sought. Almost without exception they were 

a From Twelfth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 183, 1890-91, Washington, 1894. Collectors 
had been busy in the region for several years prior to the date given. 



94 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BDLL ' 3r 

courteous and obliging. The information was practically the same in 
every instance, and may be condensed into a few paragraphs. 

The principal finds were almost invariably made on the sites of 
villages, generally in the immediate vicinity of mounds, though 
often several hundred yards from the nearest one. Usually one, 
sometimes two, rarely three, pots are found with a skeleton. Occa- 
sionally there is a burial mound in which many bodies have been 
interred. In one which was nearly effaced by cultivation the first 
intimation that it might yield anything was the uncovering of 
pottery fragments in plowing. This was explored by Mr. Thomas 
Beckwith, of Charleston, who found the base to be 4 feet lower than 
the surrounding level. Whether this had been a burial pit filled and 
covered, or whether the field had been built up to that extent by 
deposits after the mound was made, he was unable to say; but 
skeletons and pottery were found everywhere from top to bottom, 
the lowest of them in standing or soil water. Exactly 300 pots 
were saved, including practically every size, shape, style, and degree 
of finish found in the region. There were also two human effigies 
carved in sandstone. 

Though fine specimens are occasionally found in them, the larger 
mounds as a rule contain very little; and it would seem from the 
descriptions of the position and manner in which skeletons or relics 
are placed, that they were mostly deposited in the course of uprear- 
ing a structure which was primarily intended for some purpose other 
than that of sepulture. 

There are real mortuary mounds from which pottery is procured 
in greater or less amounts, but compared with the total number 
these are few. Probably 90 per cent, or even more, of mounds 
in the territory comprising and adjacent to the "Sunk Lands" were 
erected with some end in view which did not include either funeral 
rites or the concealment of relics. 

The prospectors of twenty to thirty years ago proceeded system- 
atically; they used long steel probing rods with which they tested 
almost every foot of a field they wished, to explore. There are no 
stones, scarcely a pebble, in this alluvial soil ; consequently when the 
rod met with an obstacle the searcher could be almost certain it was 
an implement, a piece of pottery, or other artificial object. In this 
way they soon learned in what sort of situation or amid what sort 
of surroundings a village site and its associated cemetery were likely 
to be found; and when one was discovered they usually exhausted 
its possibilities before going elsewhere. Further, a series of fruitless 
excavations taught them that mounds made of earth so hard the 
probe would not readily penetrate it would almost certainly be 
destitute of contents, or, if otherwise, that articles of pottery would 
be broken by pressure. So, in time, the prospectors became quite 



fowke) ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 95 

expert in selecting localities where digging would "pay," and found 
aboriginal vessels literally by the carload; and they inspected the 
country so carefully that only by chance is a source of fresh supply 
discovered. Yet from time to time enough is disclosed to assure 
an explorer good results, provided always he can find the right 
place and secure permission to examine it. Two promising localities 
are now known which have never been worked, but the owners will 
not allow researches to be made. Undoubtedly many others await 
discovery. 

Occasionally a vessel of some description is found by a laborer and 
carried to a store where it is exchanged for goods; but specimens 
accumulate very slowly in this way. Mr. Beckwith, whose collection 
is famous, has been twenty-five years or longer in getting it together, 
during all which time it has been a matter of common knowledge that 
he is in the market for whatever is worth having; and most of his 
collection has come from his own tenants. He remarked "If I knew 
where pottery could be found, I would go there and dig for it." 

More than thirty years ago, while the territory was practically 
undisturbed, Professor Conant carried on a very profitable explora- 
tion for the St. Louis Academy of Science. His principal work was 
along the west bank of St. John's bayou, between Sikeston and New 
Madrid. The success of his efforts led to the selection of this vicinity 
as the site of the only mound excavating attempted. 

The work resulted solely in a verification of the information set 
forth above. 

The Hunter Mounds 

On the farm owned by Mr. A. B. Hunter, 7 miles north of New 
Madrid and half a mile south of Farrenburg on the Cotton Belt 
railway, is a group of mounds extending for half a mile or more along 
the west bank of St. John's bayou, the extreme width of the group 
being about 200 yards. Much of the area on which these mounds 
stand was under cultivation when examined, so the exact number is 
uncertain; but there are not fewer than sixty. All of them have 
been more or less farmed over and thereby somewhat reduced in 
height ; at present they range from 1 foot to 6 feet in height, and from 
30 to 75 feet in diameter. Five of the mounds are along the edge of 
the terrace overlooking the bayou; the others are behind these, on 
the nearly level ground. 

Near the south end of the group, at the edge of the terrace, is an 
amphitheater-like depression of about an acre, facing the bayou; it 
is said so much broken pottery occurs here that " in plowing, the plow 
sounds as if it is running through gravel." It is generally supposed, 
perhaps correctly, that this is the site of a pottery factory; but no 
exploration could be made at the time. 



96 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

Seven of the mounds were opened, from the largest to the smallest. 
Two of these were on the edge of the bayou ; the others were selected 
at random among those farther back. In each, the central portion of 
the structure was removed to a depth which made it certain that 
undisturbed earth or subsoil was reached, and the excavation was 
carried to a sufficient distance on all sides to show there was nothing 
beyond worthy of investigation. 

On the bottom, at the center, of the largest mound, next to the 
bayou, were decayed fragmentary human bones; but neither in this 
mound nor in any of the others explored was any artificial object 
discovered except a few pieces of flint or pottery, which clearly had 
been gathered up in the course of the building and thrown in with the 
earth. In one mound was a fragment of a clay disk; in another, a 
broken specimen of one of the objects commonly called bottle stoppers 
for the reason that cases are reported in which vessels with slender 
necks (the gourd-like form) have been' found with these objects in the 
mouth or opening. While many of the "stoppers" were no doubt 
thus used, it is probable that others, perhaps most of them, were 
employed in the manufacture of pottery. The convex surface of the 
expanded portion, if carefully polished, as most of these objects are, 
would be well adapted for shaping and smoothing the interior of 
vessels built up by the coiling process, or by gradual accretion from 
the base, the projecting part affording a convenient handle. 

It seems the " stoppers " also filled a more important office in this 
sort of work, as described by Mr. Christopher Wren in the following 
paragraph:" 

At the Louisiana Purchase Exposition * * * the writer saw a Cocopa Indian from 
Arizona making pottery * * * . The tools she used for molding a clay pot consisted 
of a baked clay implement somewhat larger than and resembling an ordinary door 
knob, with a stem or handle about four inches long projecting from one of the flat 
sides, and a small wooden paddle made from a piece of dry goods box. Seating herself 
on the bare ground * * * she held the clay implement in her left hand on which 
she placed a flattened ball or "pat" of clay, containing as much of the moderately 
moistened clay as would make the vessel she was working upon. With the wooden 
paddle in her right hand, being right handed, she beat the clay down, causing it to 
spread over the "door knob" implement and to hang down over the edges. From 
time to time, as the work progressed, she moved the tool in her left hand about on the 
inside of the vessel as the necessities of the case required. After the vessel had been 
largely molded with the help of the two simple tools, she discarded them entirely and, 
turning it over on the bottom, she completed the rim and finished it with her bare 
hands. 

The So-called Garden or Domiciliary Mounds 

The small flat mounds beginning in the Iron Mountain neighbor- 
hood in Missouri, and extending southward into Texas and Louisiana, 
are inexplicable in our present state of knowledge. Speaking now 

a In The Proceedings and Collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, ix, 156. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 97 

only of Missouri, it may be said they exist by thousands, amid sur- 
roundings of every sort. Some extend in close succession for miles at 
the rate of two to seven or eight on every acre, broken, perhaps, now 
and then, by a slough or a cypress brake, beyond this continuing as 
before. Nearly all the smaller ones are made either of reddish, sandy 
clay, such as forms the upland subsoil, or of gumbo from the low 
grounds, consequently they are almost invariably infertile, so much so 
that in a field covered with vegetation their location may be deter- 
mined by the sparser growth on them. This feature, which was 
repeatedly stated as a fact by farmers, entirely destroys the hypoth- 
esis that the mounds were erected for agricultural purposes, though 
this is probably true of some mounds here and there on which good 
crops are raised. 

Nor is the theory more plausible that these mounds were erected 
for camping places by hunters, for there' are more of them than 
there would be animals to hunt at one time. 

They were not residence mounds, for there are lacking around 
them the usual indications of an Indian domicile — broken pottery, 
bones, fragments of implements, etc. 

Nor are they burial mounds, for with rare exceptions they are 
barren of contents. 

The mounds are found in various situations from well-drained high 
levels to swamps where, after a period of prolonged dry weather when 
the roads become hard and even dusty, they can be reached only by 
carefully stepping on roots and stumps to keep out of the mud and 
water surrounding them. Moreover, scores, even hundreds of them, 
in the compass of a few square miles, are built on sticky clay low- 
lands within a few yards or rods of sandy ridges, never muddy, where 
the ground is dry on the surface within a very short time after the 
heaviest rains, and where various crops yield abundantly. 

It is evident that all the land where the mounds now stand, and 
perhaps the entire country except the present swamps, was prairie 
land, destitute of timber at the time they were built. The sloughs 
and bayous mark the courses of former streams, and it may be that 
when the mounds were made these were open channels clear of timber, 
affording free passage in canoes. This would explain the location of 
village sites along their margins. With the actual levels of upland 
and water courses remaining as at present, if there were no forest 
growth at all there would be no great overflows except backwater 
from the Mississippi, because local rainfall would rapidly drain away. 
Many floods now are caused by the choking up of streams with drift- 
wood ; if this were all cleared out, to give an unobstructed flow, water 
would pass away in half the time or less. 
5780— Bull. 37—10 7 



98 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

It is agreed among geologists that a large area in Missouri and 
Arkansas, including a considerable part of the mound territory, sank 
several feet at the time of the great earthquake of 1811. Conse- 
quently, lowlands now subject to periodical overflow were perhaps 
sufficiently elevated prior to that catastrophe to escape any but 
phenomenal floods, and were quite habitable. If this be the case, 
more extensive excavations about these mounds may reveal the 
motive or purpose of their construction. 

The Copper Plates from Malden, Dunklin Countt 

These objects (pis. 15-19) were plowed up by Mr. Ray Groomes on 
the farm of Mrs. Baldwin, 2\ miles south of Maiden, Dunklin county. 
Mr. Groomes makes in substance the following statement: 

He was plowing much deeper than usual, probably 16 or 18 inches. His attention 
was attracted by something shining or glittering on the land turned over by his plow 
at this point, and he stopped to examine it. He found a few small scraps of copper. 
On looking at the bottom of the furrow, whence they had come, he found that his plow 
had struck the upper end of these copper pieces, which lay in close contact, "with the 
heads down," and inclined at an angle of 45°. He saw no evidence that they had ever 
been wrapped in cloth or any other substance, separately or together. He dug around 
them with his pocketknife, the loose sand and soil being easily removed, and drew 
them out of the earth one by one. There was something with them which looked to 
him like a small piece of "slate" [shale], such as he had frequently noticed in this 
ground in plowing. Possibly this was all that remained of a sun-dried or soft-burned 
clay vessel which went to pieces in the earth. There was also a small amount of some 
"white substance," not identified, none of which was preserved. 

Mr. Groomes is positive in his statement that the specimens were 
in immediate contact, as he lifted them out one after another, and 
that very little earth had worked in between them. 

Mr. Groomes afterward did a little digging at the spot, but found 
nothing more, except a few fragments which his plow had broken 
from the objects. 

Neither he nor anyone else consulted had ever seen or heard of any 
evidence of a village site in the vicinity; no flints, shells, bones, or 
pottery had ever been observed. Neither are there any mounds in 
the immediate neighborhood, the nearest being at Bernie, 9 miles 
northward. From there for many miles to the south the land 
stretches in a dead level to the East and West swamps, which bound 
it on either side. 

It is altogether probable that the articles were buried here by 
some aboriginal trader, who may have procured them from Mexico, 
either in person or by traffic, and who was prevented from returning 
to the spot or was perhaps unable to locate it again. 

a The plates finally came into the possession of Mr. J. M. Wulfing, of St. Louis, who was kind enough 
to furnish the photographs from which the accompanying illustrations were made. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 15 




COPPER PLATE FROM MALDEN, DUNKLIN COUNTY 



3UREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE 16 




COPPER PLATES FROM MALDEN, DUNKLIN COUNTY 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



ULLETIN 37 PLATE 17 




COPPER PLATE FROM MALDEN, DUNKLIN COUNTY 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



BULLETIN 37 PLATE It 





Iff, 






COPPER PLATES FROM MALDEN, DUNKLIN COUNTY 




>- 

I- 
z 

3 

o 
o 



_1 



3 
a 



z 

QJ 
Q 




fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 99 

VILLAGE SITES WORTH EXCAVATING 

At "The Pinnacles," near Miami, Saline county, on the farms of 
Messrs. W. H. Utz and E. S. Casebolt. 

On the land of Messrs. August Langenberg and Timothy Leech, 
at the mouth of Third creek, near Cooper Hill, Osage county. 

On the farm of Mr. J. Ed Belch, at the mouth of Osage river. 

On the Heyde farm, north of Advance, Stoddard county. 

A mile west of Vanduser, Scott county, on the old Batt farm, now- 
owned by Mr. James Farris, of Benton, Scott county. 

On next farm south of above, owned by Mr. John E. Marshall, of 
Sikeston. 

On the farm of Mr. J. H. Drew, 8 miles south of East Prairie, on 
north side of Upton Slough. 

On Mr. Lorin Hawke's land, the "old Peter Bess settlement," on 
west bank of Castor river, above Frisco bridge, a mile west of 
Brownwood, Stoddard county. 

LOCALITIES WORTH INVESTIGATING 

Old Bollinger farm, now the Evans farm, a mile south of Advance, 
Stoddard county. 

Farm of Mr. Colbert, 2 miles south of Advance. 

August Schonoff farm, 1J miles west of Advance. 

McKinney farm, south of Sikeston, Scott county. 

William Andrews farm, adjoining the McKinney farm on the south. 

Sikes farm, adjoining the Andrews farm on the south. 

South of Green Cox station, on west bank of Little Field swamp, 
Cape Girardeau county. 

REPORTED LOCALITIES POSSIBLY WORTH EXAMINING 

Much pottery has been found at the McFadden farm, 2 miles up 
the river from Belmont, Mississippi county, and on the Hudson 
farm next above McFadden's. 

Many relics have been found around the base of a large mound at 
Traverse, a mile south of Crosno, Mississippi county. 

Distant 5 to 6 miles west of Belmont is Sassafras ridge, where 
many specimens have been discovered. 

On Hoecake ridge, a mile west from Sassafras ridge, are mounds 
on Mr. Tom Quick's land. 

There are mounds, and numerous specimens have been found, on 
Pinhook ridge, 2\ miles south of Sassafras ridge, and on the Farrin 
farm, at the old "Tarr store," a mile north of Wolf Island post- 
office, Mississippi county. 



100 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

Southwest of New Madrid, on the farms of Mr. W. E. Davis, on 
Nolin Cypress still farther southwest, and thence on to Little river, are 
numerous mounds. Some have been opened, which were found to 
be barren of contents. 

ADDITIONAL ARCHEOLOGICAL REMAINS VISITED OR 

REPORTED 

On the Gasconade river 

Cairns and village sites about Gascondy. 

Village site on river bank a fourth of a mile below Boiling Spring, 
near Gaines's ford above Vienna. 

Cairn on Martin's bluff, 8 miles above Cooper Hill. 

Cairn at Fishing Rock, 5 miles above Cooper Hill. 

Cairn on Hollenbeck bluff, 4 miles above Cooper Hill. 

Cairn on Howerton's bluff, 2 miles below Fishing Rock. 

Village site on Schockley's farm, near mouth of Pointer's creek, 
just above Howerton's bluff. 

Village site on Mr. Gum Miller's land, 1J miles above Cooper Hill, 
opposite Massie's bluff. 

Cairn on Iron hill on Third creek, a mile from Cooper Hill. 

Cairns on Nixon's farm on Third creek, 3 miles from Cooper Hill. 

Several cairns about Freedom and Hope, on lands of Dr. Jett 
and Messrs. Fleck, Schollmeyer, and Koch; all have been opened. 

The earth is strewn with flint chips in the field next below Heck- 
mann's mill. 

Two cairns, destroyed, on Campmeeting bluff, 1| miles below 
Pinoak creek. 

A series of six connected cairns covering a solid space 20 by 70 
feet on the first bluff below Mud, or Muddy, creek; also a single 
cairn at the lower end of the bluff. All are destroyed. 

On Mueller's and Witte's farms, at the mouth of Second creek, are 
six cairns extending along the top of Lost hill. 

Mound of stone and earth on the south end of Turnpike bluff. 

At Stolpe, earth mound on Ongken farm; two earth and stone 
mounds on Bohl's farm. 

Boone county 

mounds 

On Cedar creek, 2 miles east of Claysville. 
On Mr. Luther Hart's farm, on first bluff east of Hartsburg. 
Two on Mr. John Osterloh's farm, adjoining Shaw's on the east. 
Six on Mr. Henry Lohrey's farm, east of Osterloh's. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 101 

One on Walker's farm, adjoining Lohrey's. 

Two in edge of Hartsburg, on Mr. Rudolph Bischer's farm. 

Five on next farm north of Bischer's. 

Six on Matthew's land, a mile west of Hartsburg. 

Several near Wilton station. 

Three on Mr. Henry Baumhoefer's farm, 3 miles south of Easley. 

One on Wright's farm, a mile south of Easley. 

Three on Mr. Will Rippetoe's land, \ mile southeast of Easley. 

One on Ridgeway's farm, \ mile east of Easley. 

Nine on Leineke's farm, 2 miles north of Easley. 

Fourteen on Messrs. Burnett's and O'Rear's farms, a mile south of 
Providence. 

Five on the Hunt estate, at Huntsdale station. 

Several on Torbitt's land, 4 miles east of Rocheport. 

Five on Burk's farm, east of Torbitt's. 

Several on Robey's farm, 1 mile east of Rocheport. 

Several on Mr. James Warren's land, north of Providence. 

Three on Doctor Chirm's land, west of Rocheport. 

One on Mr. Henry Walther's land, 2 miles west of Rocheport. 

One, large, on Mr. Frank Smith's land, 5 miles northwest of Colum- 
bia, near Perche bridge. 

Three near Indian Mound schoolhouse, 3 miles northeast of Harris- 
burg. 

One near Silver Fork of Perche creek "contained two bodies and a 
sword much rusted." 

Callaway county 

Mounds all along the top of Cote San'Dessein. 

Cole county 

Six on Mr. Frank Shannon's land, at Osage City. 
One on Huffman's farm, adjoining Shannon's on the west. 
Four on Walther's farm, near mouth of Moreau creek. 
Several west of mouth of Moreau creek. 

Franklin county 

"Shawnee Town" (in 1817) on sec. 4, T. 42, R. 1 E, of the fifth 
principal meridian, near Shawneetown ford on Bourbeuse river. 
Burial place near Labaddie, T. 44, R. 1 E. 
Mounds on nearly every bluff from Labaddie to Washington. 
Mounds on Mr. E. Holtgrieve's farm, 2\ miles southwest of 



102 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [boll. 37 

Gasconade county 

Mounds on Mr. C. Danuser's land, SW. \, SE. \, sec. 8, T. 45, R. 4, 
4 miles southeast of Hermann. 

Mounds on Mr. Henry Tinnemeier's land, adjoining Danuser's on 
the south. 

Mound on Mr. Fritz Witte's farm, near Brown's shanty, near mouth 
of Second creek, on NE. \ NE. of \, sec. 27, T. 44, R. 6. 

Cairns on Mr. August Roseen's land, near Gasconade river, 3 miles 
south of Morrison. 

Mound on Louck's land in edge of Morrison. 

Mounds on Duffner's and Fricke's farms, at mouth of Cole creek, 4 
miles east of Gasconade; locally termed "the fort." 

Eight (formerly thirteen) mounds on Straub's farm, on edge of 
Gasconade. 

Howard county 

Mounds on the Sinclair lands, 6 miles northwest of Harrisburg, 
on Moniteau creek; on Parmentree's, west of Bailey's ford; on 
Doherty's, 2 miles northwest of Sinclair schoolhouse. 

Three mounds on east side of Missouri, between Boonville and 
Arrow Rock. 

Moniteau county 

Mound on bluff 22 miles east of Boonville. 
Several mounds between Lupus and Sandy Hook. 

Osage county 

Village site near mouth of Loose creek, 2 miles above Osage City. 
Mounds on Mr. Amil Vincent's land, 1^ miles west of Bonnet's mill. 
Village site on right bank of Osage river, 6 miles above Osage 
City. 

Phelps county 

Mounds on Mr. J. L. Kellogg's "Spring Valley Farm," 3 miles west 
of Rolla; and on the next farm south of it. 

"Goat Bluff cave," 4 miles up the river from Arlington, much used 
as a shelter by Indians. 

"Gourd Creek cave," 10 miles south of Rolla, contains much refuse 
and many human remains. 

Cairns on Lost hill, \ mile south of Gourd creek cave. 

Randolph county 
Mounds on sec. 2, T. 52, R. 16; also, stone graves. 

Warren county 
Mounds on bluff near Case station, on Link's land. 






REPORT ON SKELETAL MATERIAL FROM MISSOURI 
MOUNDS, COLLECTED IN 1906-7 BY MR. GERARD FOWKE 

By Ale§ Hrplicka 
I. Condition of the Material 

The osteological specimens gathered by Mr. Fowke during the 
excavations described in the preceding pages were divided into two 
portions, one of which was sent to the Bureau of American Ethnology 
and thence transferred to the National Museum, while the other was 
received subsequently for examination. 

On the whole the material is very defective ; there is not an entire 
skull, and there are only a few entire long bones. The specimens 
were damaged for the most part during excavation, as shown by 
fresh breaks, and in most cases important parts thus broken off were 
lost. More than nine-tenths of the bones of the skeletons are missing 
altogether. Moreover, the surfaces of some of the skulls were treated 
with a glue-like substance which has since begun to crack and scale 
off, doing further damage. 

It is very difficult to make a satisfactory study of, and to draw 
conclusions of value from, material in this condition. All that can 
be safely stated is embodied in the following pages. 

II. Crania 

Most of the crania are of the dolichocephalic, Indian type. Two 
or three of them are extreme forms in this respect, suggesting similar 
specimens recovered in New Jersey from the burials of the Delawares. 
A close general resemblance exists between the dolichocephalic 
Missouri skulls and those from the mounds along the Illinois river; 
both are representatives of the general type, examples of which were 
found on repeated occasions farther north along the Missouri, par- 
ticularly in the Gilder mound and vicinity, near Florence, Nebr., 
and also farther south. Several of these skulls (especially nos. 
249,679 and 249,681) are characterized by low foreheads* and none 
are above moderate in capacity. On the average they are rather 

a See a special report on one of these skulls, in "New examples of American Indian skulls with low 
forehead," Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., xxxv, 171-175, 1908. 

103 



104 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

thinner and show less pronounced masculine features than Indian 
crania of related forms from other localities. 

One of the skulls (original no. 127, from Kurtz mound, p. 63), 
female, is brachy cephalic and belonged doubtless to an individual 
from another tribe. Besides this there is a male lower jaw (original 
no. 110, from Easley mound no. 2), which is unusually broad and 
short and belonged probably to a short skull; while the male skull, 
original no. 128 (exact locality not stated), gives breadth-length index 
slightly in excess of the upper limit of mesocephaly. 

The jaws and remnants of the alveolar processes show an unusual 
prevalence about the roots of the teeth of pathological conditions of 
inflammatory and suppurative nature. 

Finally, the teeth of the individuals beyond middle adult age are, 
almost as a rule, badly and irregularly worn down. 

III. Long Bones 

The long bones, particularly those of the lower limbs, indicate 
good musculature; but, as only very few of these bones are entire, 
not much can be learned as to the height of the people. In several 
instances where estimates are possible the statures indicated are of 
fair size, but not exceptional. 

In their anthropological features the bones show all the character- 
istics of the Indian, namely, a rather marked flatness of the humeri 
and tibiae, and a moderate platymery, or subtrochanteric flattening 
of the femora. The heads of the tibiae, in the few cases where 
they are left, show an inclination backward slightly greater than the 
average in whites. 

A number of the femora and tibiae present pathological conditions 
of protracted inflammatory nature, possibly syphilis. 

Numerous long bones and two skulls bear the marks of rodents' 
teeth, and also more pronounced incisions, seemingly due to cutting. 
As in many other instances, it is here impossible clearly to distin- 
guish the marks due to rodents from those due to the use of the knife. 

IV. Detailed Measurements and Observations 

Original no. 3 (from the Dallmeyer mound) : Pieces of lower and 
upper jaws of a young male. No special features except that the 
third molar on the right side of the lower jaw is impacted; it lies 
nearly horizontal, facing forward and slightly upward. 

Original no. 19 (from Dawson mound no. 14) : A defective, female, 
adult, very dolichocephalic cranium of moderate capacity; slight 
post-mortem deformation. The lower jaw, which is much damaged, 
was quite high. Teeth, slightly worn, show no abnormal features. 



FOWKE] 



ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 



105 



Measurements of the skull 



Diameter frontal minimum 9. 1 cm. 

Orbits, height, right 3.5 cm. 

Orbits, breadth, right 4. 1 cm. 

Orbital index, right 85. 4 

Nose, height, approximate 5. 2 cm. 

Nose, breadth 2. 5 cm. 



Diameter antero-posterior, 
maximum 19.0 cm. 

Diameter lateral maximum, 
approximate 13. 2 cm. 

Basion-bregma height, approxi- 
mate (14.6) cm. 

Alveolar point-nasion height, 
approximate 7. 8 cm. 

Original no. 23 (from Dawson mound no. 6) : Pieces of upper and 
lower jaws of a male skull. The only feature of interest consists in 
the greater size in both length and breadth of the third right lower 
molar than of either the first or the second. 

Original no. 27 (from Dawson mound no. 6) : The front of a male 
adult skull. The bones are somewhat less in thickness than the 
average in the Indian. 

The upper jaw has a well-formed arch, moderate alveolar prognath- 
ism, and sixteen normal teeth. 

The lower jaw also has a regular arch and shows some prog- 
nathism. The third molar on the left side was lost very early, or 
more probably never appeared, though there is sufficient space for 
it. Anteriorly, this jaw shows a rare and interesting dental anomaly 
(fig. 20). Ventrally and midway between the bicuspids, both of 
which are positively second dentition teeth, there is on each side 
another dental element. On the right side this is quite fully erupted, 
nearly as high as the bicuspids and resembling these in the shape of 
the crown, though somewhat smaller; on the left side a similar tooth 
is just appearing. There are no diastemae between the lower teeth 
and there is no visible cause for the extra bicuspids. 

Measurements of the skull 



Menton-nasion height 1. 27 cm. 

Alveolar point-nasion height. . 7. 65 cm. 

Diameter frontal minimum 9. 1 cm. 

Orbits, height, right 3.7 cm. 

Orbits, breadth, right 4. cm. 

Orbital index, right 92.5 

Nose, height 5. 25 cm. 



Nose, breadth, maximum 2.45 cm. 

Nasal index 46.7 

Palate, external length 5. 7 cm. 

Palate, external breadth, max- 
imum 6.7 cm. 

Palatal index (Turner) 117. 6 



Original no. 39 (from Dawson mound no. 9): Upper jaw and a 
portion of the lower jaw of an adult male. The upper jaw presents 
marked alveolar prognathism; teeth normal, moderately worn; pal- 
ate regular, external breadth, 6.0 cm., external length, 5.5 cm., 
index 109.1. Breadth of nose, 2.5 cm. Suborbital fossse.pronounced. 

Original no. J+1 (from Dawson mound no. 11): Female adult upper 
jaw, quite prognathic; median incisors shovel-form, as usual in Indi- 
ans. Left third molar diminutive, right not erupted ; teeth moderately 



106 



BTTKEAU OF AMEKIOAN ETHNOLOGY 



[BULL. 37 



and somewhat irregularly worn, especially the molars. With this 
specimen were a few fragments of burnt human bones. 

Original no. 76 (from Shaw mound no. 7) : Lower jaw of an Indian. 
Rami show cuts as well as signs of rodents' teeth. 

Original no. 89 (from Easley mound no. 8): Male adult skull; base 
missing, some post-mortem deformation, facial parts broken. 

Alveolar processes show signs of inflammatory conditions. The 
teeth of the lower jaw are moderately but irregularly worn; those of 




Fig. 20. Lower jaw with two supernumerary bicuspids, from Dawson mound no. 6. 

the upper jaw are nearly all lost (post mortem). Chin angular, quite 
prominent. 

Measurements of the skull 



Diameter antero-posterior max- 
imum 18. 6 cm. 

Diameter lateral maximum 13. 8 cm. 

Cranial index 74.2 

Thickness of left parietal bone 

above temporo-parietal suture 5-7 mm. 



Diameter frontal minimum 9. cm. 

Circumference maximum above 

supra-orbital ridges 50. 7 cm. 

Arc, nasion - opisthion 37. cm. 

Heightof symphisis of lower jaw, 

approximate 3. 5 cm. 



FOWKE] 



ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 



107 



Original no. 110 (from Easley mound no. 2): Pieces of the upper 
and lower jaws of an adult male. The lower jaw is unusually broad 
and short, and belonged in all probability to a brachycephalic cra- 
nium. The bones are of medium strength; the teeth are moderately 
worn anteriorly, and much more so, particularly on the outside, pos- 
teriorly. The genial spines are unusually high (7 mm.). In about 
the locality where the submaxillary gland lay against the bone there 
is, on the left side, an abscess cavity and on the right side a deepened 
and rough depression. These lesions point doubtless to disease of the 
glands which secondarily affected the bone. 

The upper jaw shows, on the right side, a short distance below the 
malar articulation, a small pathological perforation. 

Measurements of the lower jaw 



Diameter bigonial 11. 3 cm. 

Angle, sight 133° 



Angle, left 127° 

Height of symphisis 3. 45 cm. 



Original no. Ill (from Easley mound no. 2): Pieces of apparently 
deformed (flat-head ?) male skull and jaws. The walls of the cranial 
cavity are thick; the lower jaw is high (4.3 cm. at the symphisis) and 
strong. The teeth are slightly worn below, much worn above. The 
upper jaw was large and prognathic. 

Original no. 114, U- S. Nat. Mus. no. 249680 (locality not given): 
Half of a female adult lower jaw. Height of symphisis, 3.6 cm.; 
angle on left, 124°; teeth normal, slightly worn. Genial spines pro- 
nounced. 

Original no. 116 (from Baumhoefer mound no. 1): Remnants of a 
well-formed, symmetric, dolichocephalic, adult male skull, of fair 
capacity. The occiput shows a medium-sized epactal. Parts of the 
right vertical ramus of the lower jaw have been cut or gnawed off. 
Teeth normal, but showing advanced and irregular wear. The pal- 
ate presents in its anterior third a quite marked median torus. 

Measurements of the slcull 



Diameter antero-posterior maxi- 
mum, approximate 18. 7 cm. 

Diameter lateral maximum, ap- 
proximate 13. 5 cm. 

Thickness of left parietal bone 

above temporo-parietal suture 4-5 mm. 

Menton-nasion height 12. 3 cm. 

Alveolar point -nasion height, 
about 7. 3 cm. 



Diameter frontal minimum 10. 1 cm 

Nose, height 5. 3 cm. 

Nose, breadth, maximum 2. 7 cm. 

Nasal index 50. 9 

Orbits, height, right 3. 2 cm. 

Orbits, breadth, right 3. 9 cm. 

Orbital index, right 82. 1 

Height of lower jaw at symphisis 3. 7 cm. 



Original no. 117 (from Baumhoefer mound no. 1): Fragments of 
upper and lower jaws of an adult male individual, with badly and 
irregularly worn teeth; chin angular; height at symphisis, 3.4 cm. 



108 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[boll. 37 



Original no. 122 (from Buescher mound no. 1) : Pieces of upper and 
lower jaws of a male skull, apparently that of a young adult. The 
teeth are all slightly worn; all third molars missing (never erupted); 
lower jaw was strong and prognathic. 

Original no. 124 (from Buescher mound no. 1): Male adult skull, 
damaged; probably dolichocephalic. The frontal bone shows a 
marked external dull metopic crest, extending to the sagittal region. 
There was a pronounced alveolar prognathism. The vertical rami of 
the lower jaw are narrow (least breadth, 3.4 cm.). The teeth are 
normal, but considerably and irregularly worn; all the molars of the 
upper jaw were lost in life, and at the summit of the roots of each 
second upper molar there is a perforation, due to suppuration, into 
the cavity of Highmore. 

Measurements of the slcull 



Diameter lateral maximum 14. 4 cm. 

Thickness of parietal above tem- 
poroparietal suture 5 mm. 



Diameter frontal minimum 9. 5 mm. 

Angle of lower jaw, mean 118° 

Height of symphisis 3.9 cm. 



Original no. 126 (from Buescher mound no. 3): Lower jaw of a 
young female, damaged; alveolar process prognathic; teeth normal, 
anteriorly slightly crowded. Third lower molars are larger, as to 
both length and breadth, than either the second or the first, and each 
has six cusps. 

Original no. 127 (from Kurtz mound) : A female, probably adult, 
rounded, somewhat asymmetrical skull. The asymmetry does not 
appear to be pathological; it may possibly be post-mortem. All the 
sutures of the vault are patent. 

Measurements 

Diameter antero-posterior maximum, approximately 16. 5 cm. 

Diameter lateral maximum 15. cm. 

Original no. 128 (exact locality not stated) : A skull of an adult, 
probably a male, of regular form and moderate capacity. Sexual 
features not pronounced. Lower jaw missing. 

Measurements 



Diameter antero-posterior maxi- 
mum 17.7 cm. 

Diameter lateral maximum ... 14. 3 cm. 

Basion-bregma height 13.4 cm. 

Cranial index 80.8 

Height-length index 7-5.7 

Height-breadth index 93.7 

Cranial module 15. 13 cm. 

ThicknesH of left parietal bone 
above temporo-parietal suture 4-5 mm. 



Basion-nasion diameter 10. 4 cm. 

Diameter frontal minimum 8.8 cm. 

Foramen magnum, mean diam- 
eter 3. 25 cm. 

Circumference maximum (above 

supraorbital ridges) 50. cm. 

Arc, nasion-opisthion 36. 4 cm. 



fowkb] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 109 

Original no. 129 (exact locality not given) : Lower female adult 
jaw; alveolar process prognathic; teeth normal, much worn. 

Measurements 

Diameter bigonial 9. 9 cm. 1 Angle, right 146° 

Height at symphisis 3.8 cm. | Angle, left 141° 

Original no. 131 (from Brenner mound no. 2) : An adult male skull, 
very dolichocephalic, partially deformed. There is a slight flatten- 
ing on the frontal bone above the middle, on each side of the median 
line, seemingly produced by the pressure of two small pads, and 
there is also a quite marked occipital compression. The forehead is 
low, though showing distinct convexity. The supra-orbital ridges 
are prominent and the supraorbital border distad from them is 
protruding. 

Along the border, just mentioned, of the orbits are marks made by 
rodents' teeth and also marks resembling knife cuts ; and in the lower 
part of the right parietal, about the middle, there is a semicircular 
area bearing lines resembling cuts and also traces of rodents' teeth; 
this is 3 cm. in diameter. 

Original no. 131a (locality probably the same as that of the previous 
specimen) : A portion of a calvarium of an adult skull, sex not ascer- 
tainable. The right parietal shows several defective areas of different 
sizes, all approximating more or less to the circular in form, caused 
apparently by rodents ; yet some of these areas may be due to human 
agency. 

Original no. 13^ (from the Saline County village site) : Frontal por- 
tion of the calvarium of an adult female. The skull was apparently 
dolichocephalic. Diameter lateral maximum — the only measurement 
of importance determinable — 13.4 cm. The walls are rather thin. 

U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249679 a (exact locality not given) : Part of the 
vault of a skull, including most of the frontal and a small portion of 
the top of each parietal. The skull was probably that of a male 
beyond middle adult life. It was narrow and long in form, and not 
deformed. The bones are rather delicate for a male, the thickness of 
the front ranging from 3 to 5 mm. 

The specimen is interesting principally because of a low forehead, 
marked ventrally as well as dorsally. The supraorbital ridges are 
not excessive, but the border distad from them protrudes from the 
forehead proper, forming with the ridges a prominent supraorbital 
arc. 

U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249681 (from the Klamm mound, opposite 
Kansas City; see p. 72): Parts of an adult, male, dolichocephalic 
skull, of moderate size and average thickness of bones, with low 

a Discussed more in detail in the " New examples of modern Indian skulls with low forehead," in Proc. 
V. S. Nat. Mus., xxxv, 173, 1908. 



110 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 37 

forehead; also a few bones of the body. The outer surface of the 
skull, and to a less extent that of the bones, show remains of red 
pigment, apparently ocher; but it does not seem, notwithstanding 
the absence from the specimens of red stains ventrally, that the pig- 
ment was applied as a paint. The cranium is so damaged that no 
measurements of importance are obtainable. 

The various ridges and processes on the bones indicate a powerful 
musculature. The upper portion of the right femur shows marked 
platymery (3.9x2.75 cm. at the broadest part of the flattening). 

The left femur has strongly developed linea aspera. 

A portion of the right tibia is diseased; this is considerably thick- 
ened and the surface bears evidence of some slow inflammatory 
process — possibly syphilis. 

The portion remaining of the left tibia is normal. The shaft is of 
shape 3;° it measures, at about the middle, 3.45 cm. in the antero- 
posterior and 2.55 cm. in the lateral diameter. 

The humeri give the following dimensions at the middle : Diameter 
antero-posterior, right, 2.7 cm.; left, 2.55 cm. Diameter lateral, 
right, 1.8 cm.; left, 1.9 cm. 

U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249683 (exact locality not given) : Parts of 
five femora. 

All of the specimens in this lot show defects due probably to cutting 
as well as to the gnawing of rodents. These are found on both ends 
of each bone, and when the bones are placed side by side the defects 
appear to be similar, reaching in a more or less rounded way into the 
wall of each bone posteriorly, below the trochanters. The similarity 
of the effects produced argues against them being the work of rodents 
alone, although signs of rodents' teeth are plain everywhere in the 
cuts. 

Physically all the femora show strongly developed linea aspera; 
they show also more or less marked platymery (specimen A, 3.5 x 2.5 
cm.; specimen B, 3.4x2.6 cm.; specimen C, 3.2x2.55 cm., at the 
greatest breadth of the flattening). 

Nat. Mus. no. 249684; original no. 40 (exact locality not given) : 
Bones from the right lower limb of a female adult skeleton. 

Femur broken, shaft shape 1, strong linea aspera, marked third 
^trochanter and pronounced tubercle at the top of the anterior inter- 
trochanteric line. Diameters at the broadest part of the sub- 
trochanteric flattening, 3.25x2.3 cm. 

Right tibia, shaft shape 1; length, 34.7 cm. The bone is not 
platycnemic and besides its natural stoutness the shaft is slightly 
thickened by disease. 

a See "Typical forms of shaft of long bones," in Proc. Assoc. Amcr. Anatomists, 14th ann. sess., 1900, 
55 et seq. 



fowke] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 111 

U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249685; original no. 114 (exact locality not 
given) : Bones of a male skeleton. 

Femora: Length (bicondylar) , right, 45.0 cm., left, 45.4 cm. 
Diameters at greatest expanse of subtrochanteric flattening, right, 
3.45 x 2.4 cm. ; left, 3.35 x 2.4 cm. The right bone shows a moderate 
and the left a pronounced third trochanter; while anteriorly both 
present a well defined tubercle at the upper limit of the inter- 
trochanteric line. In shape the shaft of each represents type 1. 

Special: In its lower two-fifths the right bone is diseased, showing 
an irregular diffused swelling, with a marked increase in weight, and 
there is a small spot, honeycombed through suppuration, both ante- 
riorly and posteriorly above the lower articular surface ; all of which 
probably indicates syphilis. The left femur and the tibiae are normal. 

Tibiae: Length, right, 38.0 cm.; left, 38.2 cm. Diameter antero- 
posterior at middle, right, 3.4 cm.; left, 3.35 cm. Diameter lateral 
at middle, right, 2.5 cm. ; left, 2.1 cm. Shape of shafts, both approxi- 
mating type 2. The head in both shows quite marked inclination 
backward. Right fibula, normal; length, 37.0 cm. 

U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249686 (exact locality not given) : Left humerus 
of an adolescent, damaged. No special features physically. This 
specimen shows numerous positive marks of cutting, especially at 
the middle and the upper third, where they penetrate, particularly 
at the middle, in a V-shaped incision into the cavity of the shaft. 

TJ. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249687 (exact locality not given) : Right tibia 
of an adolescent, probably of the preceding subject; damaged. 
This shows marks of cutting as well as of rodents' teeth; otherwise 
there are no special features. 

TJ. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249688; original no. 30 (exact locality not 
given) : Bones of a male skeleton. 

Left femur: Length, 48.5 cm.; diameters at greatest breadth of 
upper flattening, 3.9 x 2.9 cm.; shape of shaft, rounded; pronounced 
linea aspera. 

Tibiae damaged; shape of shaft in each approximately type 2. 
Diameter antero-posterior at middle, right, 3.9 cm.; left, 4.0 cm. 
Diameter lateral at middle, right, 2.3 cm.; left, 2.3 cm. 

Head shows slightly more than average inclination backward as 
compared with the average head of the tibia in whites. 

TJ. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249689; original no. 115 (from Easley mound 
no. 2) : A pair of damaged adult tibiae. Shape of shaft in both, type 
3. Diameter antero-posterior at middle, right, 3.6 cm.;' left, 5.0 cm. 
Diameter lateral at middle, right, 2.65 cm.; left, 2.6 cm. Both 
bones, but especially the right, show a moderate bend backward 
above the middle. 

TJ. S. Nat. Mus. no. 249690; original no. 60 (exact locality not 
given) : Pieces of three tibiae and one fibula. 



112 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [boll. 37 

Specimen A: Right tibia, male, adult, damaged. Shape of shaft, 
3; diameter anteroposterior at middle, 3.9 cm.; diameter lateral at 
middle, 2.3 cm. Quite marked bend backward above middle. 

Specimen B: Right tibia, female, adult, damaged. Shape, 3. 
Diameter antero-posterior at middle, 3.0 cm.; diameter lateral at 
middle, 2.3 cm. Slight outward bend. 

Specimen C : Left tibia, adult, probably female, damaged. Shape, 
2, typical. Diameter antero-posterior at middle, 3.3 cm.; diameter 
lateral at middle, 2.0 cm. 

Specimen D: Left female adult fibula, normal; length, 33.9 cm. 

U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 24-9691; original no. 16 (exact locality not 
given) : Bones of a female adult skeleton, mostly damaged. 

Femora: Length, right, 42.4 cm.; left (?). 

Diameters of upper flattening at its greatest breadth, right, 
3.1 x 2.4 cm.; left, 3.2 x 2.4 cm. Shape of shafts both approximat- 
ing elliptical; linea aspera in both pronounced. Third trochanter 
small but well-defined on right, moderate-sized on left; in addition 
each bone presents a pronounced gluteal ridge. A rather large bulge 
or tubercle is seen on each side at the upper extremity of the anterior 
inter-trochanteric line. 

Tibiae: Length, right, 35.8 cm.; left (?). Diameter antero-poste- 
rior at middle, right, 3.5 cm.; left, 3.4 cm. Diameter lateral at mid- 
dle, right, 1.85 cm.; left, 1.9 cm. Shape of shaft in each, type 4. 
Head of right bone shows a pronounced bend backward; that of the 
left is missing. Upper third of the sacrum shows a defective, pos- 
teriorly open, neural arch. 

TJ. S. Nat. Mus. no. 24-9692 (exact locality not given) : Bones of a 
male skeleton, mostly damaged. 

Femora: Diameters at greatest breadth of upper flattening, right, 
3.65 x 2.6 cm.; left, 3.5 x 2.6 cm. Shape of shaft in both approxi- 
mates type 5; the linea aspera is strong in the right, moderately 
strong in the left bone. A medium-sized well-defined third tro- 
chanter is present on each side, and there is in each bone a well- 
marked tubercle at the upper end of the anterior inter-trochanteric 
line. 

Both bones show appreciably greater curvature backward than 
usual at the upper third of the shaft. 

Tibiae: Diameter antero-posterior at middle, right, 3.85 cm.; left, 
3.75 cm. Diameter lateral at middle, right, 2.25 cm.; left, 2.15 cm. 
Shape of shaft: both type 4, pronounced. The left bone shows a 
marked exostosis of the popliteal ridge. Left fibula, length, 36.9 cm. 

Besides the above there is in this lot a specimen which shows a 
bony fusion, in a semiflexed position, of the proximal two phalanges 
of one of the fingers. 



INDEX 



Aborigines— Page 

character 4,5 

stature 15, 31 , 44 

Animal remains found in mounds- 
deer 33, 61,88, 89 

elk 61 

mingled specimens 87,88 

panther 8, 34 

turtle (or terrapin) 33 

Apex of mound denned 1 

Archaeological Institute of America, 

acknowledgment to I v 

Archeological remains in Missouri 100-102 

Archeological sites in Missouri, location. - 1,99 
Arrow Rock, description of 92*93 

Bascom, J. D., acknowledgment to iv 

Baumhoefer mounds— 

description 54-61 

skeletal remains 107 

Beads. See Objects (principal) found, etc. 

Beck, Lewis C, on "Indian House" 75-80 

Beckwith, Thomas, as a collector and ex- 

'plorer 94, 95 

Birkle mound, description of 10-11 

Bixby, Willlam K., acknowledgment to iv 

Blackwater river, mounds on 74 

Bones, human. See Skeletal remains. 
Boone co., Mo. — 

mounds in 63, 100-101 

Easley mounds 42-54 

Bottom of mound defined 1 

Bradbury, on Missouri Indians 5-6 

Brenner mounds — 

cranium from 109 

description 69-72 

Broadhead, Prof. G. C— 

on Brenner mounds 69-70, 71 

on " Old Fort" 83-84 

on vault-graves on Salt river 73-74 

BUESCHER MOUNDS— 

description 61-63 

skeletal remains 108 

Buffaloe creek, ancient works on 75,80 

Bunched bones denned 2 

Bundled bones denned 2 

Burial customs. See Mortuary customs. 
Burials, aboriginal— 

age 4, 49 

arrangement of remains 16-17, 29-30 

communal 54, 59 

cremation of remains 8,36,38,41,42,68 

intrusive GO 

5780°— Bull. 37—10 8 



Burials, aboriginal— Continued. Page 

methods employed 4 

teeth found in 28 

See also Mortuary customs, Vault-graves. 

Busch station, Mo., vault-graves near 79 

Bushnell, D. I., acknowledgment to.. iv 

Cahokia mounds, origin of 6-7 

Callaway co., Mo., mounds in 101 

Cannibalism, indications of 7 

Cape Girardeau co., Mo.,archeologicalsites. 99 

Carleton, Murray, acknowledgment to rv 

Carpenter, George O., acknowledgment to rv 
Casebolt, E. S.— 

excavations by, at " Old Fort " 84 

owner of portion of "The Pinnacles" 87 

Center of mound denned 2 

Charleston, Mo., pottery "fever" in vicin- 
ity of 93 

Charlevoix's Letters, map in. cited 6 

Clay co., Mo., mounds in 65 

Cocoanut pots. See Pottery. 

Cole co., Mo., mounds in 101 

Cole, J. J. , acknowledgment to rv 

Compass points not significant 3 

Conant, Professor, explorations of -95 

Conical mouNDS defined 2 

Copper plates from Maiden, Mo., description 

of 98 

Coues, Dr. Elliott, on name Arrow Rock. . 92,93 
Crania from Missouri mounds, general char- 
acteristics of 103-104 

Sec also Skeletal material. 
Cremation, evidences of. 8, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 64, 68 

Dallmeyer mounds— 

description 19-20 

skeletal remains 104 

Dawson mounds— 

description 26-42 

skeletal remains 104-106 

Deformity in skeleton, description of 27 

Digging implements, kinds of 50-51 

Sec Objects (principal) found, etc. 

Dome-shaped mounds denned 2 

Domiciliary mounds, description of 96-98 

Dorsey, J. Owen, on early movements of 

Siouan tribes 5 

Doubled skeleton denned 2 

Dunklin co., Mo., copper plates from Mai- 
den 98 

Dutisme, reference by to village of Missouri. 91-92 

113 



114 



INDEX 



Page 

Earthquake of 1811, effect of 98 

Easley mounds— 

description 42-54 

skeletal remains 104,100-107 

Eureka Springs, Ark., aboriginal ceme- 
tery near 73 

European influence absent from burials.. 4 
Ewing, H. Clay, on figures of "Painted 

Rock" 81 

Ewing mounds, description of 12-19 

Explorations, extent of 1 

Farrenburg, Mo., mound excavating near. 95 

Folded skeleton denned 2 

Franklin co., Mo., mounds in 101 

" Furnace," Allamakee co. , Iowa , descrip- 
tion of 78-79 

Garden mounds, description of 96-98 

Gasconade co., Mo., mounds in 102 

Gasconade river— 

archeological remains on 100 

explorations near mouth 7-12 

" Indian houses " on -79 

Giddings, Rev. S., authority on "Indian 

House " 77, 78, 80 

Graham, Mrs. C. D., acknowledgment to. . . iv 

Granmann mounds, description of 7-9 

Graves, aboriginal. See Vault-graves. 

Great Cahokia mound, origin of 0-7 

Groomes, Ray, on discovery of copper plates 

near Maiden 98 

Hartsburg, Boone co., Mo., mounds in 
vicinity of 20-42 

Hawking, Col. Richard, on "Indian 
House " 78, 80 

Haynie, George P., owner of site ot" Old 
Fort" 82 

Hematite. See Objects (principal) found, 
etc. 

Holmes, W. H., on pottery from Missouri 
mounds 4, 21 

Howard Co., Mo., mounds in (i.3, 102 

Howe, Mrs. E. A., acknowledgment to iv 

Hrdi.icka, AleS, report of, on skeletal ma- 
terial from Missouri mounds 103-1 12 

Human remains. See Skeletal remains. 

Hunter mounds, description of 95-90 

Huttig, C. H., acknowledgment to iv 

" Indian House, " description of 5, 75-81 

Indian houses, description of 79-80 

INDIAN MOUNDS— 

location, by counties 100- 102 

report, on skeletal material from 10.3-112 

Inhabitants of region. See Aborigines. 

Iowa (state), "furnace" in Allamakeeco.. 79-80 

Iowa (tribe), early movements of 5 

Johnson co., Mo., vault-graves in 74 

J(.nes, John P., on Indian village in Saline 
ici., Mo 91-92 

Kansa— 

Iruilders of stone vaults (?) 

early movements 5 



Page 
Kansas City Academy of Science, explora- 
tions of— 

Brenner mounds 05, 09-70 

Keller mounds 65 

Kansas City mounds, description of 05-66 

See also Brenner mounds, Keller mounds. 
Kansas City Star, quoted on excavation of 

Keller mounds 66 

Kansas State Academy of Science, ex- 
ploration by, of Brenner mounds 09-70 

Keller mounds, description ot (,7-69 

Klamm mound — 

description 72-73 

skeletal remains 110 

Koehler, Hugo, acknowledgment to iv 

Kurtz mound— 

crania from 104, 108 

description 63-65 

Lewis and Clark, on Arrow Rock 29 

"Little Osage Village," location of 6 

Long bones from Missouri mounds, general 

characteristics of 104 

Louisiana, Mo., "Indian House" near 75-81 

Loutre river, ancient works on 80 

Malden, Mo., copper plates from 98 

Mallinckrodt, Edward, acknowledgment 

to IV 

Markham, J. D., acknowledgment to iv 

Marquette's map cited as to location of Siou- 

an tribes 5 

Miami Indians, supposed builders of "Old 

Fort " 86 

Miami Saline co., Mo., Indian works near. 82,86,92 

Middleton, , excavations by, at "Old 

Fort " 84 

Mississippi, aboriginal use of name 6 

Mississippi co., Mo.— 

archeological sites 99 

as a source of Indian pottery 93 

Missouri, aboriginal use of name 6 

Missouri (tribe)— 

early movements and history 5-6 

mentioned by La Harpe 91-92 

"Missouri village" 6 

Moniteau co., Mo., mounds in 102 

Montgomery co., Mo., ancient works in... 74,80 

Moreau, Jean, adventure of Sl-82 

Morton, Mrs. I. W., acknowledgment to... iv 
Mortuary customs— 

folding bodies 2 

sprinkling of soil on graves 50 

See also Burials, Cremation. 
Mound Builders— 

in and near Cahokia mounds 7 

of the lower Mississippi , characteristics of. 4 

stature 44 

Mounds— 

construction 32 

general discussion of 1-3 

measurements 2-3 

terminology 1-2 

See also Vault-graves and specific names 
of mounds. 

Nagel, Charles, acknowledgment to iv 

New Madrid Co., Mo., as a source of Indian 
pottery 03 



INDEX 



115 



Page 
New Madrid, Mo., mound excavating near. 95 
Noix creek. See Noyer creek. 

Noyer creek, ancient works on 75,77,79-80 

Nye creek. See Noyer creek. 

Objects (principal) found in mounds — 

arrows and arrowheads 21,63,73 

beads- 
bone 38, 41 

shell 16,20, 

30, 31, 40, 41, 44, 45, 47, 49, 61, 63, 64, 73, 79 

"bottle stoppers " 96 

catlinite 89 

celt 48 

digging implements 20,23, 

24,35-36,46,61,73,91 

flint implements 9, 12, 42 

gorget (shell) 61 

hammer stones 12, 19. 20 

hematite 9,21,28,42,51,73 

knives 7, 21, 48 

mortar, sandstone 50 

muller, quartzite 27 

polishing and rubbing stones 21.42 

scrapers 23, 90 

shells 56, 57, 63, 73 

spearheads 21, 48 

See also Pipes, Pottery. 

"Old Fort," Saline co., Mo. — 

builders 91 

description 82-86 

Omaha , early movements of 5 

Osage— 

connection with grave- vaults 73, 92 

early movements 5 

village in Saline co. , Mo 91-92 

Osage co., Mo., archeological sites in 99,102 

Osage river— 

ancient works on 75 

explorations about mouth 12-20 

" Painted Rock" on 81-82 

Oto, early movements and history of 5, 6 

"Painted" bones, explanation of term 68,73 

Painted Rock, description of 81-82 

Parks, Dr. W. F., acknowledgment to IV 

Phelps co., Mo., mounds in 102 

Pictographs, description of 81-82 

Pike co., Mo.— 

ancient works 80 

' ' Indian House " 75-81 

vault-graves 74 

"Pinnacles, The" — 

description 82 

village site 86-92 

Pipes— 

from Dawson mound no. 11 37 

from Easley mounds 48, 49, 52 

from "Indian House" 79 

from Smith mound no. 2 12 

Pits around and in Indian villages, explana- 
tion of 90 

Platte co., Mo., mounds in 65 

Ponca, early movements of 5 

Pottery— 

character 21-22 

cocoanut pots 31,50,52 

collection in southeastern Missouri 93-95 



Page 
Pottery— Continued. 
Dawson mounds — 

bowl 29 

pots 29,31,32,33.34,38,40,41,42 

Easley mounds (pots) 49, 50, 52 

Hunter mounds 95, 96 

Klamm mound 73 

Kurtz mound 64 

manufactured by Cocopa Indians 96 

middle Missouri region 4 

Mississippi co., Mo 99 

" Old Fort " 91 

Shaw mounds (pots) 21,22,23,24,25 

"The Pinnacles" 87,88,89,90,91 

Prairie fork, mounds on 74 

Prospectors for pottery', methods of 94-95 

Randolph co., Mo., mounds in 102 

Reed, Homer, on "Indian. House " 78,79 

Refuse pits, description of 90 

Rodents, work of 7.104,110 

Royxe, on location of "Little Osage Village". 6 

Roy, Marie, capture of 81-82 

Ruegge village site, description of ■ 9 

St. Louis Society, Archaeological Institute 

of America, acknowledgment to iv 

Saline co., Mo.— 

ancient works in 82-86, 92 

village site 99, 109 

Salt river, vault-graves on 73-74 

Scope »f work 1 

Scott co., Mo.— 

archeological sites 99 

as a source of Indian pottery 93 

Scrapers. See Objects (principal) found, 

etc. 
Shaw mounds — 

description 20-26 

skeletal remains 106 

Sikeston, Mo., mound excavating near 95 

Siouan tribes, movements of 5-7 

Skeletal material from Missouri mounds- 
age 3,39,49 

condition 3, 103 

crania 4, 38, 103-104 

incised lines on bones 7 

long bones 104 

measurements and observations 44,104-112 

of children 33 

" paint " found on bones 68, 73 

spinal curvature 27 

terminology 2 

Skeleton burial defined 2 

Skulls. See Skeletal material. 

Smith mounds, description of 11-12 

Son,, use of term 1 

Southeastern Missouri, reconnoissance— 

copper plates from Maiden 98 

garden or domiciliary mounds 96-98 

general account 93-95 

Hunter mounds 95-96 

Spinal curvature, case of 27 

Stevenson, O. W., on mounds near Warrens- 
burg 74-75 

Stoddard co., Mo.— 

archeological sites 99 

as a source of Indian pottery 93 



116 



J 



Storehouses, pits as 

Subsoil, use of term 

Summit of mound defined 

"Sunk Lands" as a source of Indian pottery. 

Surface of mound defined 

Syphilis, indications of in skeletal remains.. 

109,110,111 

Teeth found in aboriginal graves— 

condition* 28 

index of age 47 

set in normal contact without skeleton. . . 59 

specimen having gold plug 86 

supernumerary 31, 105. 106 

typical condition 104 

Terms defined 1-2 

Top of mound defined 1 

Uffman mound, description of 9-10 

Underground houses— 

explanation of term 65 

identical with burial vaults 72 

See also Vault-graves. 

Utz, W. H., owner of portion of "The Pin- 
nacles" 



INDEX 

Page page 

90 Vault-graves— Continued, 
construction- 
breaking of joints and interlocking.. 3,69 
method of building walls. 3,10,35,57-61,64 

use of timbers 36,5) 

distribution 73-75 

intrusive burial 60 

largest .• 45 

purpose 4 

See also Underground houses. 
Village site at "The Pinnacles," descrip- 
tion of 86-92 



Vault-graves- 
benches 



87 



45 



builders 5-6,92 



Warren co., Mo., mounds in 102 

Warrensburg, mounds near 74, 75 

Waterworth, James A., acknowledgment 

to '. . . IV 

West, Judge E. P.— 

on mounds opposite Kansas City 65, 66 

on "Old Fort" 84,86 

on pottery of "Old Fort" and village 

site 91 

on village site at "The Pinnacles" 87 

Whelpley, Dr.-H. M., acknowledgment to. IV 

Winnebago, tradition relating to 5 

Wren, Christopher, on Indian pottery 

making 96 

Wulfing, J. M. ; acknowledgment to iv,98 



o 



72 



LBJc12 



